Long Islanders and New Englanders are fully aware of some of the issues that come with driving between these two locations. You can run into traffic, adding hours to your trip. We have already covered one alternative to traffic called the Cross Sound Ferry. This guide will introduce another option called the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry.
This ferry runs between Port Jefferson, New York, and Bridgeport, Connecticut. These two locations are right across the Long Island Sound from each other.
In this guide, we cover some of the history of this ferry and touch on the current operations, addressing topics like the trip duration and the price you can expect to pay when utilizing this alternative.
History of The Long Island Sound and Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry
A Brief Overview of Long Island Sound and Traffic Issues
The Long Island Sound is a body of water separating Long Island, New York, and Connecticut.
There is no bridge or tunnel to travel directly across this body of water to get to each location.
People from Long Island and Connecticut travel around New York City, notorious for bumper-to-bumper traffic. The traffic can add hours to a trip that should take a few minutes if there was a bridge or tunnel for car traffic.
There were once plans for a bridge across the Long Island.
One effort was planned for the Seaford Oyster Bay Parkway on Long Island to be extended across the Sound and connect with I-95 in Rye, New York.
This solution would help drivers bypass New York City traffic and connect Long Island with Westchester County saving drivers close to an hour of driving.
Another planned initiative was to take the William Floyd Parkway on Long Island and connect that with I-95 in New Haven.
These plans were both shot down because communities on Long Island and Connecticut not allowing these projects because of the environmental impact each extension negatively brings.
The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry Origin and Modern-Day Operations
Port Jefferson boatsman Charles Tooker and Barnum and Bailey Circus promoter PT Barnum founded the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company in 1883.
During this time, there was a plethora of private boats that ferried customers between New York and New England.
However, contrary to what one might think, the actual reason the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry was not to get people from A to B.
The ferry connected Long Island’s agriculture industry with New England’s industrial industry.
Today, the ferry operates three boats, MV Park City, MV, PT Barnum, and MV Grand Republic.
Each of these ferries can carry 85 to 120 cars below deck. The boats feature a bar, a small restaurant, and indoor and outdoor seating.
Where Does the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry Bring You To?
The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson ferry operates a route between Port Jefferson and Bridgeport.
These locations offer access to highways to get you where you need to go quickly.
They both offer plenty of activities nearby that you can do if you decide to take a day trip to visit each location.
Port Jefferson
Port Jefferson is on Long Island’s North Shore. The area features prime real estate amongst the rolling hills.
The ferry terminal in the downtown area of Port Jefferson. More commonly known as “Down Port” by the locals. The harbor area is the center of town and very hard to miss.
The town has many small shops, pubs, and restaurants you can visit. You can take a stroll at several parks in the nearby area. You can also go down one of the piers in the harbor and marvel at the beautiful multi-million dollar houses found on the hills to the east.
When traveling away from Port Jefferson to destinations elsewhere on Long Island, your goal is probably to connect with the Long Island Expressway.
The Long Island Expressway is several miles away from Port Jefferson. It can take upwards of 15 to 30 minutes to finally reach the highway due to the number of stop lights, traffic, and the winding roads leading to the expressway.
Bridgeport
Bridgeport is one of Connecticut’s more populated cities. It is located on the state’s southern shore.
It ranked in the top 25 of the United States’ most ethically and culturally diverse cities.
There was much effort lately to clean up the city’s image. It was once home to lots of crime. At the turn of the 21st century, the crime rate dropped off significantly.
Bridgeport is also known as Park City because it contains 35 public parks within its city limits.
The ferry drops you off at the terminal right on the Pequonnock River only minutes away from I-95 to get you on your way to destinations in New England. There are plans for a new terminal in the future.
The current terminal is located near Webster Bank Arena making the ferry a great mode of transportation if you catch a concert, comedy act, or a hockey game.
How Long is The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry Ride?
The trip between Bridgeport and Port Jefferson is 17.1 nautical miles or 19.6 regular miles.
Each trip takes about an hour and 15 minutes. Boats leave at the top of the hour from 6 AM to 9 PM.
The ferry operates different schedules based on the time of year. For example, they have an early summer schedule and a late summer schedule which varies the number of trips and hours per day based on the demand.
Overall, an hour and 15 minutes boat ride from Long Island to Connecticut and vice versa saves time. For people in the middle of Long Island and Connecticut, getting to New York City can sometimes take an hour and 15 minutes to almost 2 hours.
How Much Does It Cost to Ride the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry?
The ferry operates two different payment rates based on peak and off-peak hours.
Peak hours run between Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and on holidays. Off-peak hours are between Monday and Thursday. These rates only apply when taking a car on board the vessel.
Similar to the Cross Sound Ferry in Orient Point, the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry charges customers that drive cars on board based on the size of their car. They list different vehicle classes on their website.
Typically, a normal-sized car will cost you $70 per trip on non-peak hours and $72 per trip on peak hours. For oversized vehicles over 20-23 FT, you can expect to pay $85 off-peak and $89 on-peak. Both of these rate structures include car and driver. If you are driving with additional passengers, you need to purchase separate tickets for each passenger.
There are also premium rates available. If you want to be first to drive onto the ferry and first off, you will have to pay $98 on non-peak days and $102 on peak days.
For travelers walking onto the ferry, a standard one-way adult ticket is $22. Military members and senior citizens can purchase a $19 discounted ticket.
You can buy round-trip tickets which can save you some money. An adult round-trip ticket will cost you $37. A round-trip ticket will cost military veterans and seniors $27. Children under the age of 12 ride for free.
If you take the ferry often for commuting to work, you can purchase a monthly pass for $285.
Conclusion
Traveling between Connecticut and Long Island can cause major headaches because of New York City traffic.
Luckily for people in these two areas, you can bypass New York City by using the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Ferry. The trip will take only an hour and 15 mins, probably saving you hours of sitting in gridlock car traffic.
Sources
https://www.courant.com/2002/05/14/the-bridge-that-never-was/
