Marine Master Plan

The Delaware River and Bay Authority and the Cape May - Lewes Ferry Begin Marine Master Plan Effort 

The DRBA is launching a marine master planning effort early in 2021. This plan will be focused on master planning for the Cape May - Lewes Ferry fleet and will work alongside the Terminal Master Plans that were finished last year. This effort will begin with a data gathering phase to determine the existing conditions that may impact the fleet. Following the data gathering phase, an analysis of the fleet will be undertaken which will lead to the definition of requirements for future vessels. Finally, a report will be produced detailing analysis findings and recommendations for the future fleet. 



Community and stakeholder input are critical to this plan. The DRBA encourages you to provide feedback and input that could aid in the master planning process. Virtual public meetings will be held throughout phases of the study, with a comment period following the release of the draft report. Please visit this website for project progress and feel free to submit comments below. Thank you in advance for your partnership in this effort! 

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Project Schedule & Goals

Schedule:
 
Goals: 

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Background 

Since launching service in 1964, the Cape May Lewes Ferry (CMLF) has served more than 14 million vehicles and 43 million passengers. The 17-mile ferry ride connects New Jersey and Delaware, providing an enjoyable 80-minute mini-cruise across the Delaware Bay. A capacity of up to 100 vehicles and 1,000 passengers is provided on each crossing, serving local residents and tourists alike.
 



This Master Plan will thoroughly assess the operational needs and requirements to maximize value – economic and otherwise – to our region over CMLF’s next 40 years of operation. By opening responsible lines of communication between DRBA executives, CMLF crew members and other employees, consultants, and especially the communities we serve, this endeavor will match up our hard-earned experience with modern technology to create an efficient, environmentally transformational design to accomplish the CMLF mission for the next half-century.  

This plan will help DRBA/CMLF to:

♦ Meet the DRBA/CMLF mission into the future, to include

1. Safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation  
2. Promoting tourism and goodwill  
3. Stay focused on customer and team member experiences  

♦ Build upon the input from stakeholders and be informed by an experienced technical team  
♦ Strive for enhanced environmental efficiencies
  

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Public Comments

Do you have thoughts, comments, or feedback? We value and welcome your input during this process, and we invite you to leave a comment below.

Please note the following:

• All comments are subject to moderation, and it may take up to 24 hours for your comment to post to the site.
• The comment section will display a maximum of 10 user comments at any given time; once 10 comments are present, the oldest comment will drop off as new comments are added.  
• All comments will be received, reviewed, and recorded, however DRBA/CMLF reserves the right to withhold public display of any comment for any reason. 
• You can also email your comments and feedback to [email protected].