The Woodland Ferry, which carries vehicles and passengers across 460 feet of the Nanticoke River southwest of Seaford, dates back to Colonial times, but a state task force is considering options that could threaten its future viability.
Established by Executive Order No. 14, the Delaware Task Force on Sustainable Transportation Funding is weighing a wide range of options to reform the state’s Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), which finances road and bridge projects, public transit, and more.
Some revenue streams that support the fund are either not keeping pace with inflation or, in the case of the state fuel tax, declining. Additionally, several major projects on the horizon, such as capping I-95 in Wilmington and widening Delaware 1 in New Castle and Kent counties, will place new strains on the TTF.
Two options are under consideration for the Woodland Ferry. One recommendation under advisement would begin charging tolls for what is currently a free service. A second suggestion would transfer the crossing’s operation to a nonprofit entity or private company.
State Rep. Danny Short, who represents the area, does not support either option. He argues that charging fares will further diminish ridership on the ferry, which is already flagging because the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) cannot keep the vessel in service due to chronic maintenance and personnel issues. Rep. Short added that, like most public transit services, the ferry isn’t viable without state support.
While the ferry costs about $755,000 to operate annually, Rep. Short said that is well under 1% of the $125 million the agency spends from the TTF each year to support public transit operations elsewhere in the state.
When the Woodland Ferry is operating normally, it serves dozens of vehicles daily. Given its continuing value to local residents and its cultural and historical significance as the nation’s oldest operating ferry, Rep. Short says the crossing should be maintained.
Rep. Short says many problems with the unreliable ferry service stem from unforced errors by DelDOT. Instead of replacing the older ferry with a new vessel of the same size and type, DelDOT contracted for a new, larger, purpose-built vessel that was troubled from the start. After its official christening in 2008, the vessel suffered systemic mechanical breakdowns and was functional for only six of its first 14 months in active service.
Additionally, the larger vessel requires a higher operator classification, making it extremely difficult to hire and maintain full staffing. Both issues have made the service exceedingly erratic and unpredictable. Operations at the crossing are currently suspended as the ferry awaits difficult repairs to its thruster assemblies.
As an alternative to the task force’s options, Rep. Short suggests replacing the current MVF Tina Fallon with a smaller, more reliable vessel—to be christened the MVF Tina Fallon II—that would be easier to staff and less expensive to operate.
While the task force is soliciting public input via a survey, Rep. Short said the online form does not address the Woodland Ferry directly and offers little opportunity for detailed comments. He urged supporters of maintaining and improving the service’s operation to send emails to the following address: Dotpr@Delaware.gov.
The Delaware Task Force on Sustainable Transportation Funding is considering other options, such as raising the state fuel tax, increasing existing vehicle fees, and establishing new fees, including e-bike registration. For more information on what the group has been discussing, access its Meetings, Minutes, and Materials at this website: https://deldot.gov/Programs/sustainable_funding/
Under the executive order that established the group, the task force must deliver a final report on its recommendations to the governor and the General Assembly no later than December.
