O/T: Rochester Fast Ferry docked

New York State seems to have a habit for wasteing money on crap that we don't need roads and railroads are in disrepair. Jobs are moveing out of here taxes are on the rise again. I complaned about the pot holes in frount of the house for 4 years now the city is repaveing the road its about time these slakers did something I'm tired of paying taxes to pay dead beats!!
I can only wonder if the brainless wonders in this state and country would have this much truble with that Oswego truck ferry idea? Anyone think this would be a sinker as well if it ever happened??
I have seen a few reports on the Rochestor car ferry on boatnerd as well and wondered if this whole thing will ever get strated out?

The whole thing points out that we need to have a detailed plan about mass transportation in every community, which takes into account all forms of transport (air, rail, road, water) and doesn't exclude one at the other's benefit (like the current Fed. plan of "No Rail!"). And of course some places will need NO plan because they are too small.

The Ferry sort of worked. 140,000 a month people took it. That's enough to show it has something to it. Perhaps more would have taken it if there had been advertising and some co-ops like free night in Toronto. Who knows.

I do know why it wasn't US registered...$. A good many ships out there aren't because it costs too much and US requirements (crew, insurance, Etc) are prohibitive. That's why Carnival and all those big cruise lines are Liberian or Bahamian registered ships. I'm sure things are slightly different for a boat on the Great Lakes, but I'm sure $ is the reason.

And let's not forget we are dealing with New York State--where the legislature can't even decide on a budget for 5 months.

By the way, Otto, 1966 was the year the LIRR became MTA property.

The ferry is not considered mass transit. Leisure/tourism travel? Yes. Business travel? Hardly. Commuter travel? No way.

I believe the 140,000 people was in almost 3 months, not 140,000 a month.

I would agree most ships are not registered in the U.S. Most cargo ships that travel the great lakes are registered in the following countrys:
Greece, Holland, Cyprus, Bahamas, Barbados, Croatia, and Canada, Most oil tankers and heavey Lift ships are registered in Finland, Sweeden, Norway and Russia. I think the registering of a ship to a certen country would tell where that ship will be spending most of its time tradeing in the in the world weather it being Northern or Southern Hemisphiere.

What about the gambling?

Someone pointed that out to me last weekend as we fished within sight of that huge ship - The Canadian Gov't and NYS shot down the idea of putting slots on-board, and that could have been a HUGE money maker for them also. I agree completely that CATS and others didn't have their ducks in a row on this at all, its been a cluster you know what from the beginning. And its blatantly apparent that Toronto is/was more than skeptical about it, considering the concrete is barely now poured for their terminal.

Do I think it is a complete waste of money though? Not totally, as there's other dollars being spent because of it - tourist and local traffic through the lakeshore area, advertising dollars in local media, etc. The one thing that has amazed me all along though is that schools are having troubles making ends meet ( not just RCS, many others ) and the state and county throw a bunch of money at a project with so many holes in it.

would the gambeling laws be diffrent between the U.S. and Canada as far as taxs go??

I am not sure of specifics, but I would imagine so. Part of the reason Canada might not want it could be that they already have casinos that do VERY well in the province of Ontario. Gambling on the ferry could ( possibly? ) detract from that revenue, giving NYS a piece of their pie.

seems like I saw a few blips on Tv and maybe a few small adds in the news paper reported on the ferry. I could be wrong thow.

Well I think we explored this topic far enough... I think we're straying away from the transportation aspect of the conversation.

-otto-