NEW ORLEANS – The ferry that was traveling from Gretna to Jackson Avenue has been shifted to travel between Gretna and Canal Street, the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced today.

The shift, effective Sept. 28, will operate for a nine-month test period. The department is aiming to increase ridership of the ferry service, which is operated by DOTD’s Crescent City Connection Division. The new route will provide a direct link between Gretna and the Central Business District.

In addition to the route change, the Gretna ferry service will operate under a revised schedule. The ferry will now operate seven days a week. The operating hours are Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Departures are scheduled from Gretna on the half-hour and from Canal Street on the hour. Vehicles will be carried from Gretna to Canal Street, but vehicles will not be carried from Canal Street to Gretna.

The ferry will not carry any vehicles Friday, October 2, through Sunday, October 4, because of the Gretna Heritage Festival.

The department held a public hearing about the route change Aug. 26 at Gretna City Hall.

Ferry tolls, which are only collected going westbound, are $1 for cars and $0.25 for pedestrians. Between May 1, 2008, and April 30, 2009, 35,391 vehicles and 43,744 pedestrians used the Gretna ferry, which costs approximately $2.2 million a year to operate.

More information about the CCCD ferries can be found at www.dotd.louisiana.gov/operations/cccd/ or by calling (504) 376-8100.

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