The Landscape: Ferries
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Portland State University PDXScholar Metroscape Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies Summer 2009 The Landscape: Ferries Elizabeth Mylott Portland State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/metroscape Part of the Urban Studies and Planning Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Mylott, Elizabeth (2009). "The Landscape: Ferries," Summer 2009 Metroscape, pages 4-5. This Article is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Metroscape by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. The Landscape Ferries by Elizabeth Mylott n recent years, a resurgence of interest in wa- When the City of Portland launched the River Iter-based mass transportation has led the City Renaissance program in 2000, with a vision of re- of Portland to reconsider the potential role of vitalizing the Willamette River and reuniting the ferries in the regional transportation system. Not city around a common element, ferries were in- only do ferries present an attractive alternative for corporated in the plan. The City partnered with increasing water-crossing capacity for commuters, Nelson/Nygaard, Cogan Owens Cogan, and IBJ but they are also a link to the region’s past. Much Associated to conduct a ferry feasibility study. of the metroscape’s early development was facili- The report, released in June 2006, looked at two tated by ferry lines that allowed development to possibilities for ferry service: a commuter line spread across the region. and an intra-city circulator that would connect The metroscape was once home to a thriving important destinations within Portland’s Central ferry industry. Starting in the 1840s, ferry lines City and provide river excursion trips for visitors developed on many rivers and streams. In addi- and residents. The report concluded that “com- tion to providing regular transportation, they also muter ferry service should not be pursued at this made land more accessible and attractive to inves- time due to high cost premiums over other modal tors, thus facilitating residential and commercial options and expensive terminal construction investment (Snyder, 1989). Ferries aided develop- that would be required to initiate service.” Look- ment of many cities and towns around the region ing ahead, however, the report suggested that “a in a similar fashion, including Portland, Oregon seasonal circulator designed to provide passenger City, and Wilsonville. excursions and connect Central City destinations Proliferation of the automobile, advances in during the peak visitor season (May through Oc- building technology, and an increase in public tober) is the most cost-effective service evaluated infrastructure spending led to the decline of the and should be considered as an initial service of- ferry industry during the early 20th century. Many fering” (Willamette River Ferry Feasibility Study, ferry lines were replaced with bridges, including June 2006). In January 2009, the City announced the St. Johns and Sellwood bridges. Today only that River Renaissance would be combined with two regularly scheduled ferry lines operate in the the Office of Healthy Working Rivers. Its unclear metroscape: the Canby Ferry in Clackamas Coun- how this collaboration will affect possible plans ty and the Wheatland Ferry between Marion and to incorporate ferries into the regional transporta- Yamhill counties (http://www.w7wwg.com/fer- tion system. ries.htm). One unresolved question is environmental im- In recent years, the idea of incorporating fer- pact. A study of nine popular public transporta- ries into the regional transportation network has tion modes conducted in Hong Kong in 2001- gained traction in Portland. Ferries are an appeal- 2002 found that the volatile organic compound ing form of mass transit particularly for cyclists exposure levels in marine transport were lower and pedestrians. Open air or windowed decks than land based transport. A similar study in San allow for a pleasant ride. In addition to practical Francisco found that diesel-powered ferries with- considerations, ferries invoke nostalgia. Symbols out emissions controls will produce less carbon of a bygone era, ferries are reminiscent of a time monoxide but more particulate matter and nitro- when rivers were more central to the lives of area gen oxide per passenger-trip than typical land- residents. based options like cars. Page 4 Metroscape Vancouver Portland-Vancouver Ferry Portland Sellwood Ferry OrHi #12224 OrHi #2354 Sellwood Ferry River Community Dates Original Operator Wheatland Ferry Willamette 1850s - Present Daniel Matheny Michael Willamette Champoeg on the south bank 1850-1857 Laframboise Ferry to the north bank Boones Ferry Willamette Wilsonville 1847-1954 Alphonso Boone (grandson of Daniel Boone) St Johns Ferry Willamette St. Johns to Linnton circa 1850-1931 James John Canby Ferry Canby.