JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry will receive a $68 million federal grant to replace one of its vessels with a new, lower-emission ferry, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced Monday.
The funding will replace the Surry, which has been part of the ferry system connecting James City and Surry counties across the James River for nearly 50 years.
The grant comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“The Surry ferry has been carrying passengers and connecting communities across the James River for almost 50 years,” Warner and Kaine said in a joint statement. “We’re proud to announce that this funding will help modernize the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry fleet and help make Virginia’s transit system better for our environment.”
The ferry fleet transports approximately 800,000 vehicles annually, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. It is the only 24-hour state-run ferry in Virginia.
VDOT took over operation of the ferry in 1945. The ferry system has more than 90 employees and an annual operations budget of approximately $18 million.
The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry fleet consists of four vessels. The Pocahontas, built in 1995, can carry 70 cars. The Powhatan, built in 2019, also can carry 70 cars. The Surry, built in 1979, can carry 50 cars, while the Williamsburg, built in 1983, can carry 50 cars.
The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry provides a free crossing of the James River between Jamestown and Scotland Wharf in Surry County.
