Published: November 02, 2007 12:13 pm            

YOUNGSTOWN: Ferry gains steam

Wheels are turning in the effort to revive a cross-river ferry service between Niagara-on-the-Lake and Youngstown.

All that remains to make the ferry a reality by as early as summer 2008 is a rubber stamp from top-level Canadian officials, which is likely to place in the early months of next year, said Niagara County Legislature Chairman Clyde Burmaster, R-Ransomville, one of the ferry’s biggest boosters. Those officials want to make sure that a customs booth on the Canadian side (there will be one on both shores) will be worth building.

Following a press release in which he announced the support for the project by the Niagara 10 — a series of local and regional governments surrounding the Niagara River — Burmaster said that a number of hurdles have been cleared to bring the ferry back.

“We’re about 98 percent ready for a possible start in 2008,” he said. “Based on what I know, it’s a matter of semantics.”

U.S. customs has signed off in general agreement with idea, and there are two potential ferry companies which have come forth and expressed interest, Burmaster said.

Still to be determined is how construction of customs offices on both sides of the river will be accomplished and how they will be paid for.

To start, boat rides will only take place for special events such as those held at Artpark or similar things on the Canadian side, Burmaster said. The ride will take about eight minutes, and could feature themes such as soldiers from Fort Niagara or Canada’s Fort George talking about the history of the forts. The cost would likely be around $5, and about 50 people at a time will be able to take the trip.

“This could be the biggest economic development and tourism driver since the (Seneca Niagara Casino) in Niagara Falls,” Burmaster said.

Youngstown Deputy Mayor Fred Stephens said the ferry represents a great opportunity for village businesses and tourist traffic to and from the forts on both sides of the border. The village recently completed about $400,000 in upgrades to the village docks, partly in preparation for cross-river ferry service.

Stephens noted the success of a trial run in 2005 in which hundreds of people participated, but said questions remain as to what is required in the way of customs facilities.

“That would be the foremost question in our mind,” he said.

Burmaster stopped short of making guarantees on when the ferry will debut, but did allow himself to imagine the tourism opportunities. Limousine trips from Canada to the Niagara-on-the-Lake border, where the casino could take parties to the luxury golf course coming soon to Lewiston and then to Niagara Falls for a night of gambling, he said.

“Everyone’s excited about it,” he said. “People are constantly walking up to me in the street and saying, ‘when are we going to see this?’ ”

Contact reporter Dan Miner at 282-2311, ext. 2263.

        

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