Cape May – Lewes Ferry Traffic Rises for Second Consecutive Year

NORTH CAPE MAY – Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) officials announced that the Cape May – Lewes Ferry recorded its second consecutive year of passenger and vehicle traffic growth in 2015, registering a back-to-back yearly increase for the first time in more than 15 years. In 2015, the ferry service transported 266,149 vehicles and 782,241 passengers compared to 262,010 vehicles and 767,209 passengers who used the Delaware Bay service in 2014. The vehicle and passenger numbers have increased nearly 4% and more than 5% respectively since 2013.
“We’re pleased with the news and I want to thank our customers for their loyalty and willingness to travel with us,” said Heath Gehrke, Director of Ferry Operations.
“Last year, we canceled some 32 crossings due to severe ice conditions in the Delaware Bay,” Gehrke said. “With that, and higher traffic in 2014 due to our 50th Anniversary, we knew it would be a challenge to beat our year-over year numbers. The results are a testament to our employees’ hard work and dedication.”
Cape May County Freeholder Will Morey praised the Authority for the most recent statistics. “The increased traffic is a welcome sign,” Morey said, “and the numbers reflect the great talent and enthusiasm with which the DRBA staff performs their jobs.”
According to Rhona Bronson, Director of Marketing, the Ferry’s digital marketing efforts were also a factor. “Travel and hospitality marketing is increasingly digital as customers go to mobile and online sources for research and self-serve booking. Through a variety of digital tools we have developed channels that reach close to a quarter million customers with ideas for visiting the bay and using the ferry to enrich their experience.”
Bronson added, “As many people who love the freedom of digital travel planning, more still prefer the personal touch where they can get a question answered. We have an amazing group of front line people on the boats and in our Guest Services group who are true area specialists and enjoy interacting with the traveling public daily.” Customer feedback to these team members led the Ferry to test and expand new market opportunities in 2015, such as biker only boats for special motorcycle rally events, a Sunday US Coast Guard brunch on Mother’s Day as part of the county’s US Coast Guard festival, and the bi-state Brews-by-the-Bay craft beer festival.
Ferry service officials also attributed the ridership increase to a recovering economy coupled with lower gas prices, greater awareness of ferries as a travel option, and favorable weather conditions late in the season.