Potomac River commuter ferry next stop: JBAB?

The idea of a Potomac River commuter ferry has been floated (please, pardon the pun) for at least 10 years.

As I understand it, the ferry would pick passengers in spots in an around Woodbridge — like Belmont Bay on the Occoquan River, or at Quantico, and ferry them north to points Maryland and Washington, D.C.

If the ferry ever becomes a reality, places like the Southwest Waterfront in Washington, D.C. or National Harbor in Maryland would be natural places for ferry stops.

The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) is working on a study to examine the potential cost of such a ferry, and what new infrastructure is needed — like docks where passengers can get on and off, and parking lots for passengers to park their cars — before the ferry could get off the ground.

I’ve been trying for about a month for someone at NVRC to comment on the study, but have come up short each time.

But do you know who is interested in talking about the prospect of a commuter ferry? The folks over at JBAB (Joint Base Anacostia Bolling) which is home to a naval support facility and Bolling Air Force Base.

And, why not? The base is located water, and it would provide workers there another option for getting to work.

I asked Jennifer Simpson at the JBAB Public Affairs Office about the ferry, and how it could change the daily commute of those who work at the base.

PL: I’m told JBAB, and other stakeholders in the commuter ferry study see the Potomac River as a resource to transport commuters to and from work. Please tell me how JBAB views the river as a potential new highway for its personnel to commute to and from Virginia?

JBAB: Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) is located on the waterfront at the confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. Currently, commuters from Northern Virginia must cross the river via the 14th Street or Woodrow Wilson bridges. The ferry could allow commuters to directly access the base without the accompanying traffic and parking problems of driving. The ferry could be more convenient, and less
stressful for workers than driving alone or taking public transit (which involves multiple connections to go from Northern VA to JBAB).

PL: What is the most common form of commuting for base
employees today? Car? Bus?

JBAB: The private automobile (single-occupancy) is, by far, the most common form of commuting to the base. There are a few vanpools that serve the base and a shuttle service to/from the L’Enfant Plaza Metro/VRE station.

PL: If a Potomac River commuter ferry becomes a reality, how much of a role would the military play in its operation and funding?

JBAB: The military seeks to play a very limited to no role in the operation or funding of the ferry. Albeit JBAB is already bringing many assets to the table to support commuter ferry service. All federal employees on base have access to the federal transit benefits program which provides more than $230 per month to pay for qualifying transit commuting costs (such as ferry service).

JBAB has two dock/marina areas that could potentially accommodate a ferry landing. The base could potentially lease the piers to the ferry operating body or come up with another arrangement.

There is no plan for government funds to support the ferry beyond the existing transit subsidy and the potential use of the existing waterfront facilities. JBAB envisions itself as one stop in a wider commuter ferry network where anyone can ride the ferry but only credentialed riders will be able to disembark at the base.

PL: I know NVRC is working on a study to examine the
feasibility of the study. When does JBAB expect to learn the results of this study?

JBAB: JBAB has furnished a representative to the ferry feasibility study working group and has provided some general information about employee demographics for the study. JBAB expects to learn the study results in late spring 2018.