Families in Anne Arundel and Calvert counties can look forward to a new passenger ferry service that connects key Maryland destinations along the Chesapeake Bay in a few years.
A consortium of five local counties—Anne Arundel, Calvert, Queen Anne’s, Somerset and St. Mary’s—accepted proposals in early 2023 to analyze the feasibility of starting a ferry service in the Chesapeake area.
Although driving to some areas in the region is quicker, access to a ferry service would cut down on up to an hour of transportation time for other routes, specifically those spanning the bay—and improve local access to the bay.
Not to mention, the ferry routes are also expected to promote economic growth in 21 ferry host communities and boost local tourism opportunities. The proposed ferry system has six routes and connects Annapolis to Baltimore, Chesapeake Beach and Matapeake on Kent Island.
Anne Arundel County has since drafted a grant agreement, which was submitted for approval to Maryland Transit Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. The county has also begun the National Environmental Policy Act process. Residents can expect to start using the ferry in 2028 or after, according to Sam Snead, Anne Arundel County’s
transportation officer.
