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atching a ferry across the Neuse River may be less challenging now that the Cherry Branch-Minnesott ferry schedule has expanded.

As of today, five more departures have been added on both sides of the river. The waits between rides won’t be as long as they have been this past year and ferry rides after midnight will be available once again.

The new schedule restores much of the service the Ferry Service cut last year in the Minnesott-Cherry Branch crossings. (Among the more notable changes a year ago, was the two-hour gap between ferry service in the mid-morning. That long wait ends with this week’s changes.)

“Last year we had to cut runs due to the state budget and U.S. Coast Guard guidelines in regard to the number of hours a day our ferry employees could work. Since then, the Governor has put enough money in the budget for us to hire enough personnel to staff the extra runs and return to basically the old schedule that was in place prior to the cuts last spring.”
Lucy Wallace, NC Ferry spokesperson

An early morning commute on the Minnesott-Cherry Branch ferry.

One notable change for commuters from Pamlico County who work at Cherry Point is that there is now an earlier — 5:25a — run from Minnesott to Cherry Branch. That’s also the departure time for the first run from the Cherry Branch side, a slightly later start than before.

Under the newly adopted 2010 schedule that kicks in today, ferries will depart Minnesott and Cherry Branch twice an hour in the mornings until the 12:15pm run. Resuming at 1:15p, after the crew’s lunch hour, the ferry service will then run on the semi-hourly departure schedule through 5:15p.

In the evenings, the departures are roughly every hour until the 12:45a run from Cherry Branch and the 12:15a run from Minnesott. (Previously, the last ferry was at 11:30p)

These changes are so new they have not yet been posted on the Ferry Division’s web site, but you can hear them on the outgoing message at the 1-800-BY-FERRY phone number. (Press 4 for the Cherry Branch-Minnesott schedule).

The new schedule is on TownDock.net:

You can download a copy of the new schedule by clicking here.

Posted Wednesday January 20, 2010 by Melinda Penkava