The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) has officially started the 7th annual Providence/Newport High-Speed Ferry season. In addition, the ferry, Ocean State, will have a new berth in the capital city: Conley’s Wharf at Providence Piers, which is located at 180 Allens Avenue, just down the street from the ferry’s former Point Street dock.

The new port-of-call offers several advantage. The ferry will no longer require navigation through the narrow passage of the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier along with its shifting tides. This reduces the ferry trip time by 10 minutes (now 50 minutes one-way). And the freshly-paved site will provide more than 200 free, parking spaces for passengers

“We are excited by this opportunity to provide our passengers with faster, safer and even more convenient ferry service,” said RIPTA General Manager Alfred J. Moscola. “We’ve known for a long time that traveling through the hurricane barrier required extremely careful navigation even by the most experienced captain. Conley’s Wharf presents several advantages for our customers and we think it’s going to prove to be a great homeport.”

The RIPTA ferry service is expected to have neighbors such as the Continental Shoop Providence. RIPTA has also extended its Gold Line trolley service to Providence Piers for the duration of the ferry season to accommodate ferry passengers traveling to and from Kennedy Plaza.

Last season, the ferry carried more than 38,000 passengers – a record-breaking 7,677 per month – and more than 232,000 over the last six years. The ferry has been a vehicle for state tourism by residents and visitors from out of state, according to passenger feedback the last several seasons. Last year, 41 percent of passengers indicated ‘sightseeing’ as their primary purpose for riding, while another 36 percent indicated ‘entertainment.’

“The ferry continues to be a proven success,” said Michael Glasfeld, president of New England Fast Ferry, the ferry’s operator. “Ridership is growing each year and passenger feedback has been extremely positive. We look forward to another busy season on Narragansett Bay.”

The high-speed catamaran will operate seven days a week, including holidays – Memorial Day, Independence Day, Victory Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day – through October 16, 2006. The vessel will complete five roundtrips a day from Monday through Thursday and on Sunday, and six roundtrips a day on Fridays and Saturdays.

In Providence, Conley’s Wharf is located at 180 Allens Avenue. Free parking is available seven-days-a-week for passengers who present a ferry ticket. In Newport, the ferry docks at Perrotti Park (on America's Cup Avenue). All-day parking is available at the Gateway Visitors Center for just $2 with proof of ticket purchase. Passengers are advised to have their ferry tickets validated before disembarking.

To reach the dock, take the RIPTA Gold Line trolley from Kennedy Plaza, which has been extended to Conley’s Wharf for the duration of the ferry season. To reach downtown Providence from the dock, take the RIPTA trolley marked “Kennedy Plaza,” which arrives just 10 minutes after the boat docks. In Newport, RIPTA trolleys and buses depart regularly from the Gateway Visitors Center, just a short walk from the ferry dock in Perrotti Park.

Reservations can be made by calling 401-453-6800 or visiting www.nefastferry.com. Fares for the 2006 season are $8 one-way, $16 round trip for adults, with discounts for seniors, disabled persons, and children 5 to 11 years old. Children under 5 years old ride free with an adult. Fares include a $1 fuel surcharge as approved by the Public Utilities Commission August 2005.

The Ocean State, which typically cruises at 30 knots, has twin, 1,000 horsepower Detroit Diesel engines, allowing it to achieve a top speed of 34 knots. It has a 146-passenger capacity and features a comfortable spacious interior salon, a large main outdoor deck, an upper outdoor deck, and a small snack bar.

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