RIDOT says Providence-Bristol ferry service will end in two weeks

BRISTOL, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said Friday the ferry service from Bristol to Providence will end in two weeks due to low ridership.

The department said ridership data showed that it was time to end the service. RIDOT exercised its two-week advance notice agreement with the three companies providing the ferry service.

“We implemented the ferries as part of a multi-modal solution to the Washington Bridge event. At the time of the closure, we needed to swiftly pursue all solutions to alleviate traffic and we did just that. Now that the bypass lanes are open and conditions have improved, it is appropriate to phase out the ferry service,” said RIDOT Director Peter Alviti.

“It is clear from the data that only a very small percentage of commuters utilized this service and people are overwhelmingly choosing to utilize the bypass lanes. A service that is costing about $50,000 per day and attracting only 300 to 400 passengers per day is not economically sustainable,” he said.

Officials said 3,285 people used the ferries over 12 days of service since its inception on Dec. 21 to Wednesday. The department noted there was no service on Christmas or New Year’s Day.

The ferry service will operate through Friday, Jan. 19 on the same schedule.

The free service was created to help commuters during the closure of the Washington Bridge.