Gagetown group wants province to commit to ferry service

A group in Gagetown is calling on the provincial government to make a commitment to returning ferry service in the spring.

Wilf Hiscock, who speaks for the Save Gagetown Ferry group, says losing the service would be a major blow.

"It would be devastating for the residents ... it's no different than shutting down the Westmorland Street bridge [in Fredericton]," he said. 

• Gagetown ferry out of service for the winter
• Gagetown ferry only licensed for 4 months
• Gagetown ferry resumes service with reduced schedule, new limits
• Gagetown ferry will return to service in July after $100K in repairs

The free cable ferry, which crosses the St. John River between Gagetown and Lower Jemseg, is not allowed to operate during the winter.

In a post on its Facebook site, the group says it has learned that Transport Canada won't license the ferry for the 2016 season, "unless the provincial government would make a commitment to replace our ferry with a new one or at least another ferry approved by DOT. It is our understanding that no commitment was ever made by the provincial government."

Sarah Bustard, a spokesperson for the province's Finance and Transportation and Infrastructure departments, says the cost of replacing the ferry is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.

"The province is in the process of reviewing the decisions it will have to make as part of the 2016-17 provincial budget," she said in an email to CBC News.

Hiscock says he's concerned budget cuts will mean the end to a vital service in his community.

"People have businesses to run. We have workers travel every day ... safety is always a concern," he says, pointing out the ferry is the shortest route for ambulance, fire and police. He says it's also a tourist attraction.

"It's no different than a covered bridge to us," he said.