Crown Point ferry begins service Monday morning at 5 am

This release just came from New York’s Department of Transportation:

As promised in our last message dated January 28, 2010, we are pleased to inform you that the new temporary ferry, which has been operating in test runs over the weekend, will officially open to the public on Monday February 1, 2010, beginning in Chimney Point, VT at 5:00 a.m.

The ferry will operate year-round between Crown Point, NY and Chimney Point, VT, every day – 24 hours a day, 7 days per week – at no charge to the public. Currently, the ferry is scheduled to depart from Chimney Point on the hour and half hour and depart from New York at 15 and 45 after each hour. Initially there is a 15 ton 2-axel weight restriction per vehicle.

This should come as a huge relief to hundreds of commuters in the mid Champlain Valley, cutting hours from their daily commute.