Government

Cross Sound ferry secures federal funds to upgrade Orient terminal

(L-R) Cross Sound Ferry co-owner Adam Wronowski speaks with Congressman Tim Bishop and the ferry's Long Island liason David Kapell near the terminal Tuesday afternoon. (Credit: Paul Squire)
(L-R) Cross Sound Ferry co-owner Adam Wronowski speaks with Congressman Tim Bishop and the ferry’s Long Island liason David Kapell near the terminal Tuesday afternoon. (Credit: Paul Squire)

The Cross Sound ferry terminal in Orient will be getting new ramps, new bulkheads and new mooring structures — all thanks to $1.23 million in federal funding — the ferry’s co-owner and Congressman Tim Bishop announced Tuesday afternoon. 

Construction work on the terminal will be phased to prevent any service interruptions, said Cross Sound Ferry Services vice president and co-owner Adam Wronowski.  The upgrades will begin once the ferry receives funding in about six months and should take about a year to complete.

The ferry, he said, is a “vital lifeline” that connects East End residents and businesses with New England.

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“The work that we’re going to do here is vital to maintaining that lifeline,” Mr. Wronowski said while standing near the loading ramps.

Both vehicle loading ramps will be removed, rebuilt and reinstalled with new equipment, which will improve reliability, he said. The work will be staggered so one of the two ramps will remain open.

The sheet pile bulkhead around the dock — some of which has been in place since the 1950s — has deteriorated and will be replaced. The mooring dolphins will also be rebuilt and more dolphins will be constructed near the pier, allowing the ferries to dock more safely.

“We look forward to providing safe and reliable service to the east end of long island for decades and decades to come,” Mr. Wronowski said.

The money for the upgrades comes through the Federal Transit Administration, Mr. Bishop said. The upgrades will help boost two goals shared by the ferry service and local government: building the local economy and reducing traffic on Long Island’s roads.

“As the lone Long Islander on the Transportation committee, this is an area that has been very important to me,” Mr. Bishop said. “This is a federal investment that is United States tax dollars very, very well spent.”

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Correction: A previous headline for this article incorrectly referred to the service as the “Cross Island” ferry.