The first regularly scheduled ferry service in New Orleans was established in 1827. The ferry ran from Patterson St. in Algiers Point to Jackson Square.
A third ferry line added in 1858 – from Verret St. to Esplanade Ave. This later became the ferry that transported railroad cars across the river from Press Street / Elysian Fields to the Southern Pacific yards in Algiers.Another railroad ferry was the Walnut Street Ferry which operated upriver of Audubon Park and connected the Westwego.
Several other public ferry crossings developed as the city spread up and downriver from its original site. Six ferries served the New Orleans area in the 1930s. At one time, a whole series of ferries connected numerous cities along the Mississippi River corridor.
The First Bridge
The first project to alter the local ferry landscape was the construction of the Huey P. Long Bridge (opened in 1935), the first railroad bridge to cross the Mississippi River in the state of LA. This railroad / vehicular bridge eliminated the need for railroad ferries and provided easy access for the upper West Bank for drivers. The story of how Huey P. Long convinced the railroad companies to build this bridge and pay for it is the stuff of political legend. In short, he told them: “If you don’t build it, I’ll tax every railroad tie in this State! And believe me, I CAN DO IT!”
The Second Bridge
The second vehicular bridge in the New Orleans region was the original GNO Bridge which opened in 1952 and was operated by Mississippi River Bridge Authority (MRBA). The opening of this bridge caused a dramatic decline in ridership on private river ferries, making them unprofitable, but the bridge opened up the West Bank: it created a real estate boom.
In 1959, MRBA took over the Canal-to-Algiers ferry line, acquired the Gretna ferry in 1965 and created the Chalmette ferry service in 1969. This ferry is unique in the New Orleans region because it connects 2 state highways and is viewed by LDOTD as an essential link, unlike both the Algiers and Gretna ferries.
The 2nd span of the GNO Bridge opened in September 1958 after 7 years of construction and was renamed the Crescent City Connection based on a local naming contest. It too caused another boom in West Bank real estate development.
Riverfront early New Orleans
An icy day on Old Man River
Railroad on ferry
Canal Street Terminal
The Building of the Greater New Orleans Mississippi River Bridge (now the Crescent City Connection.)
Huey P. Long Bridge being built.
Ferries Today
The New Orleans ferry system has the fourth highest ridership of any ferry system in the U.S. (The Crescent City Connection Bridge is the 5th busiest toll bridge in the country.)
More than 2 million passenger trips are made on the Canal Street ferry annually. The only ferry systems with higher ridership are the Washington State Ferries, and the ferries in New York City. New Orleans has more trips than the Golden Gate Bridge system in San Francisco.
Fares are $2 per person each way.
Fares collected to operating/maintenance expenses low compared to other ferry lines in US.
$8.25 Golden Gate Ferry in San Francisco
$6.00 in Rock Island, IL
$3 Port Authority of NY and NJ
Based on 2009 study commissioned by Regional Planning Commission, majority of ferry riders use it to get to work.
Timeline
The current system is descendant of system that began in late 1820s. Ferries and skiffs moved goods and people across the river to Algiers.
In the early 1800s, city officials awarded steam ferry service contracts to convey passengers and goods on a regular schedule between the two banks.
The first regularly scheduled ferry service between Canal Street and Algiers was established in 1827.
First public ferry established in 1827 when the Louisiana Legilsature granted August Coycault and Barthelemy Gosselin a contract to operate a steam ferry from the foot of Patterson Street on the west bank to Jackson Square on the east bank.
In 1834, a second ferry was added, its dock at de la Ronde Street and its east bank landing at St. Louis Street (moved later to Canal St.).
Third ferry line added in 1858 – the third district ferry began to run from Verret St. to Esplanade Ave. This later became the ferry that transported railroad cars across the river.
Several other public ferry crossings developed as the city spread up- and downriver from its original site. Six ferries served the New Orleans area in the 1930's.
At one time, whole series of ferries along river connected cities on river corridor. Also ships sailing across the Lake.
GNO Bridge opened in 1958 and was operated by Mississippi River Bridge Authority (MRBA). The opening of the bridge caused a dramatic decline in ridership on private river ferries, making them unprofitable.
In 1959, MRBA took over the Canal-to-Algiers ferry line.
MRBA acquired the Gretna ferry in 1965
MRBA created the Chalmette service in 1969.
3 other ferries operated by DOTD in Louisiana – Cameron, Edgard/Reserve, Plaquemine
