"The purpose of this synthesis was to document the state of the practice of integration between land- and water-based transit systems and to explore successful aspects of seamless integration. The report assembles and presents information in numerous locations around the United States, supplemented with examples from Canada, Australia, and Bermuda. To accomplish this effort a literature review was undertaken that received limited results. However, a selected survey of 46 respondents out of 57 transit and ferry agencies, as well as agencies and companies in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, including Bermuda, received an 80% response rate. The respondents represent a geographically representative sample--varying in size and age of system, degree of coordination between ferry and transit, and type of community served. The synthesis summarizes findings from 60 different ferry-to-land-based transit interfaces. Case examples of key factors of land- and water-based integration are offered for Long Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts; TransLink's SeaBus in Vancouver, British Columbia; New York Waterway's Hoboken Terminal; and Washington State Ferries and Kitsap Transit in Bremerton, Washington. Tim Payne, Danielle Rose, and Hazel Scher, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc., Seattle, Washington, collected and synthesized the information and wrote the report, under the guidance of a panel of experts in the subject area. The members of the topic panel are acknowledged on the preceding page. This synthesis is an immediately useful document that records the practices that were acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available at the time of its preparation. As progress in research and practice continues, new knowledge will be added to that now at hand"--Preface.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the state of ferry transit operations in North America and to develop practitioner guidance for the planning, marketing, operation, and management of ferry transportation systems. The research is intended to present a uniform understanding of the status of ferries as well as options for how to approach planning and operational activities. This guidebook is intended for use by operators large and small, in publicly or privately owned operations, for the development of ferry operations as a solution to a transportation need. This research was developed through literature searches of previous studies, reviews of existing government and state documents, telephone interviews with a broad selection of ferry operators, in depth case studies of eight ferry operators and ferry systems geographically dispersed across the North American continent, and peer review of the interim documents. The main body of this report contains the case studies and a guidebook. Two appendices provide additional information to support the work documented within the main body of the report. Appendix A provides a listing of literature review sources, and Appendix B documents the results of a survey of ferry operators that was developed and implemented in this research.

The iconic Lake Michigan car ferry Badger has been providing reliable service between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, since its maiden voyage on March 21, 1953. Originally built as an ice-breaking ferry hauling railroad freight cars, the Badger now transports passengers, automobiles, recreational vehicles, motor coaches, and commercial vehicles including standard-size tractor/trailers and specialized oversized load trailers. The Badger is the last surviving operational example of a large network of railroad ferries crossing Lake Michigan that had once provided a time-saving shortcut for freight shippers, bypassing the long, circuitous route around the bottom of the lake through Chicago's railyards. Today, the Badger performs a different role, saving time, fuel, and mileage for regional tourists and cross-country travelers, and has been designated the continuance route of US Highway 10. Currently under the ownership of Interlake Maritime Services, the historic 410-foot-long ferry begins its seventh decade of service, continuing to bring joy and adventure to new generations of riders as it contributes to the economic vitality of the cities of Ludington and Manitowoc and surrounding regions.

History of one of the shortest, oldest and most unusual ferries.