On Feb. 26, the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) Commissioners approved a new fare schedule for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry at its monthly meeting held in the James Julian Boardroom at the Authority’s Administrative Complex in New Castle.
Effective April 1, 2008, the new ferry rate schedule, which eliminates reservation pre-booking fees, is designed to promote and encourage round-trip vehicle and passenger travel, motor coach travel, commercial traffic and reservation usage, while also generating additional revenue for the operation. In 2007, the operating deficit of the Cape May–Lewes Ferry was approximately $6.5 million.
As part of the new fare schedule, all reservation pre-booking fees have been eliminated and discounts are offered for customers who reserve on-line.
“By encouraging more customers to use our reservation system — either on-line or through our reservation office — we can better gauge traveler demand and make operational adjustments, if necessary,” said Jim Walls, chief operations officer for the DRBA. “Reservation customers receive more value by guaranteeing their space on the particular departure of their choosing without an additional charge.”
If the customer cancels or doesn’t board the vessel, the CMLF will retain $5 of the total fare as a cancellation fee.
A key component of the new fare structure is the new discount program for commercial customers, which will be effective May 1, 2008. For more than 20 years, the CMLF has serviced accounts for commercial customers. To encourage and grow this market segment, the Commission authorized a new commercial discount program, which provides a pack of six tickets at 15 percent off the regular fare. In addition, bus passenger fares were reduced up to 25 percent to attract more tour operators to use the crossing.
The new fare schedule raises all vehicle and driver fares $5. In addition, a new peak fare category, valid from Memorial Day to Labor Day, was established for Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays between 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Vehicle and foot passenger rates and shuttle bus fares are not affected. The revised fare schedule is expected to generate gross income of approximately $15.5 million.
According Walls, the agency focused first on improving cost efficiencies before implementing a new fare schedule.
“Over the past few years, we were able to identify and achieve cost savings through efficiencies in our operation,” Walls said. “However, because the ferry service continues to experience significant cost increases in a number of areas, including vessel fuel, utilities and insurance, we determined that additional revenue is necessary.”
A full copy of the revised rate structure is available online at http://www.drba.net/press/releases/files/cmlffareadjustrel_08.pdf.