The end of the St. Johns River Ferry service would have the greatest impact on local residents who take the ferry on outings to coastal parks, beaches and restaurants, according to results of an extensive rider survey by the Florida Department of Transportation.
Local residents out for fun, sun and food accounted for 46 percent of the riders on the ferry.
Commuters heading to work and back home made up 29 percent of the ridership, ranking them the second-highest reason for taking the ferry.
Tourists ranked third at almost 15 percent of riders. The study defined tourists as riders who said they were here as tourists or were taking trips that began or ended outside Duval, Nassau, St. Johns and Clay counties.
The Jacksonville Port Authority now operates the ferry, but the JaxPort board voted to stop paying for the service after Sept. 30.
City Councilman Bill Gulliford, chairman of a special committee looking for ways to save the ferry, said the ridership report will guide the decision on how to round up the needed funding.
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