Cross Sound Ferry is a passenger and road vehicle ferry operating between New London, Connecticut and Orient Point, Long Island, New York. The service is privately owned and operated by Cross Sound Ferry Services, Inc, headquartered in New London. According to the company's website, it serves over one million passengers annually.
Geographic Imperative for Service
Long Island extends more than 110 miles north-northeastward from the East River in New York City. Its north shore roughly parallels the southern shore of the State of Connecticut, separated from the latter first by the East River and then by the Long Island Sound. Though there have been multiple proposals to bridge the sound at various points, there is currently no bridge, nor any active plans for a bridge east of the Throgg's Neck Bridge that extends from the New York City Borough of Queens to the Borough of The Bronx. Therefore, Long Island motorists located east of that bridge must first drive west, cross one of the two city bridges to the mainland, and then drive east to reach most New England destinations, including Boston. This circuitous route could, at the extreme, add as much as 200 miles to a trip to or from Long Island to New London and points north and east. In addition to the saving in mileage, use of the ferry or the other major Long Island-Connecticut ferry from Port Jefferson to Bridgeport, Connecticut avoids heavy urban traffic in New York City and on Interstate 95 in Connecticut.
Fleet
The company owns a fleet of seven vehicle-passenger ferries and a single high-speed, passenger-only ferry, the Sea Jet I. The fleet consists of both new build vessels and vessels retrofitted at sister company, Thames Shipyard and Repair in New London. The fleet has been added to and upgraded over the years due to serve a surge in demand for service caused by a number of factors, including the growth of Long Island's population, congestion on all-highway routes and, more recently, the opening of gambling casinos near New London.
Tourism
On the New England side, the ferry is located near Mystic and the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration, Mystic Seaport and Olde Mistick Village. The city of Providence and Newport, Rhode Island are within an hour's drive from the New London terminal. Boston and the Cape Cod bridges can be reached in two hours or less. Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort casinos are 20 minutes from the ferry terminal in New London.
On the Long Island side, the ferry is located within Long Island Wine Country and its collection of over 30 wineries located on Long Island's North Fork. The maritime village of Greenport is just 10 minutes away. Montauk and the Hamptons are within an hour and a half drive of the Orient Point terminal.
Attempts to establish a service on Long Island's South Fork
For more than 20 years, Cross Sound Ferry has attempted to establish service between New London and the South Fork of Long Island in East Hampton Town. A local ordinance passed by the Town in 1997 prohibits vehicle ferry service within the Town's borders and places limits on the speeds of passenger vessels. A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit has sent back an earlier decision upholding the anti-ferry law. This decision represents a significant victory for supporters and potential users of a direct service to East Hampton.
Cross Sound is also seeking to improve its terminal facilities at Orient Point by creating additional parking at the terminal to accommodate the demand for its service. Currently, cars park along the shoulders of State Route 25 to use the ferry service when the terminal lots are filled. This improvement will accommodate all East End users of the ferry service and will meet the demands of the traveling public.
Another related company to Cross Sound Ferry, Block Island Express, offers seasonal, high-speed passenger service between New London and Block Island, Rhode Island May through October.
- Cross Sound Ferry official website
- Block Island Expressofficial website