Contract Dispute Keeps Cave-In-Rock Ferry Docked

The Cave-in-Rock Ferry, Ohio River Mile 881, hasn’t run in more than two months because of a contract dispute between the owner and the states of Kentucky and Illinois, which fund it through a ferry authority.

The two-year funding contract expired at 11:59 p.m. June 30, and the ferry has remained parked since then.

That is creating issues for some of the roughly 300 passengers on average who cross between Cave-in-Rock, Ill., and Crittenden County, Ky.

“We can tell a difference already in the community as far as there isn’t as much traffic,” said Rebecca Woodall, president of the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce. “People aren’t in the stores as much. You would go into the stores, and half the plates would be Illinois plates.”

With cheaper taxes on gasoline and food in Kentucky, it is typical for Illinois residents to do their shopping on the Kentucky side of the river, Woodall said.

“My heart goes out to those on the other side because they’re having to drive an hour just to get groceries,” she said.

Both the chamber of commerce and the city council of Marion, Ky., the county seat of Crittenden County, passed resolutions in August asking for continued negotiations between Lonnie Lewis, who has owned the ferry service since 1994, and the transportation departments for both states.

The chamber of commerce resolution notes that the ferry “provides a vital transportation link across the Ohio River between Crittenden County, Ky., and Hardin County, Ill.”

The ferry has operated for generations, and its closure has disrupted the movement of workers, goods and services and has adversely impacted commerce, tourism, employment and access to healthcare, according to the resolution.

It typically operates 16 hours a day and is a free service for passengers and their vehicles. The next closest public river crossing is 30 miles away by road, in Shawneetown, Ill.

According to information released by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, contract negotiations between Lewis and the states began in early June with the state agencies initially proposing funding of $1.8 million for each of the next two fiscal years, the same as in the past two years.

Lewis requested an increase of 47 percent, to $2.8 million, due to rising fuel prices. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said in a news release July 2 that the states then offered a 10 percent increase in funding. Lewis rejected that offer and asked for a nearly 40 percent increase instead.

Lewis did not return a message left for him with the ferry company’s office, requesting comment.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet released the following statement.

“Team Kentucky values the vital transportation link the Cave-in-Rock Ferry provides to residents and businesses. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Illinois Department of Transportation have worked through the Ohio River Ferry Authority for years to provide the funding for the ferry’s operation. State operational budgets are declining over the next two years but because the ferry provides a key transportation service between our states, Kentucky and Illinois offered a 10 percent increase over last year’s contract, which totals $2.06 million in bi-state funding per year. While the ferry operator rejected the offer, it is still available should the owner choose to accept it. The decision lies with the Ferry Authority and its operator to provide the service and how to fund it. The operator has been encouraged to accept the states’ funding offer and explore other revenue-generating options to supplement our subsidy if it is considered insufficient.”