New White's Ferry Study Explores Future Options For Crossing The Potomac

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A new study on the short- and long-term possibilities for White’s Ferry will be presented to Loudoun County’s Board of Supervisors next Tuesday.

In December 2020, the ferry’s owner stopped operations after a decision by a Loudoun County Circuit Court regarding the ferry’s right to use land on the Virginia side of the river.

White's Ferry was established in 1786, and was still used by many area residents. When it was operational, the ferry carried 800 commuters on a daily basis between Loudoun County and Montgomery County, Maryland.

Chuck Kuhn, founder and CEO of Sterling's JK Moving Services, and his wife, Stacy, acquired the historic ferry system in February. They have been negotiating with the owners of Rockland Farm LLC for the rights to use the historic ferry’s Virginia docking site.

At its Nov. 16, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will receive a presentation on the completed White’s Ferry study.

The study of White’s Ferry operations was commissioned by the Board of Supervisors earlier this year and was conducted jointly with Montgomery County. The two jurisdictions commissioned AECOM and STANTEC to prepare the study.

“We appreciate the work and insights from the recent joint study by Montgomery and Loudoun Counties," Chuck Kuhn said in a statement Thursday. "It underscores White’s Ferry importance to the region and also revealed the difficulties in maintaining and making the ferry a private successful enterprise as the previous owners recognized."

Kuhn said he remains committed to making White’s Ferry operational and affordable for customers.

The study evaluated the short-term options for resuming ferry service between the two counties, long-term benefits, and issues and opportunities for operating the ferry. Both counties view ferry service across the Potomac River as an important part of the region’s transportation network.

Among the study’s findings include issues associated with facilities and properties needed to operate a ferry, such as limited road widths and the lack of shoulders on the access roads leading to White’s Ferry. In addition, space for parking and vehicles that are waiting for the ferry is limited.

While not required for immediately restarting ferry service, the study also identified a number of improvements that could be considered for the sustainability of the ferry in the future. These include operational challenges where the previous ferry service delivered two round trips per hour at a 15-minute overall trip time one way. The study indicated this service would be insufficient to meet projected future demand from commuters.

The study also found that the existing ferry would need to be replaced in the next decade.

Without the ferry service, travel time between the Town of Poolesville in Maryland and the Town of Leesburg in Virginia will increase considerably in the future, according to the study.

According to 2018 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 11,100 jobs for which commuters could use the ferry between Loudoun County and Montgomery County. In 2019, about 4 percent of the potential 11,100 workers used the ferry to commute. The projected volume of trips between the two counties is expected to increase by 40 percent between 2019 and 2040.

In the short term, the study estimated that restarting the ferry service would require minimal low-cost actions. These include inspecting the existing vessel to confirm its seaworthiness, hiring staff and restringing the ferry cable.

In the long term, changes in infrastructure, including improvements in staffing, roadways enhancements to support queuing vehicles, fare collection, lighting, and vessel capacity could be considered to improve the system’s capacity, according to the study.

According to Chuck Kuhn, White's Ferry provides an important Potomac River crossing that helps employees get to work and contributes to the economy.

"The impasse has cost people time and money and added traffic and environmental woes to our community," he said. "We look to the counties to help us move forward and support whatever direction they deem best to get White’s Ferry working for our region.”

Members of the public can provide input about the White's Ferry study to the Board of Supervisors in writing, by phone and during its public meetings.

The Nov. 16 meeting of the Board of Supervisors, where the study will be presented, is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at the Loudoun County Government Center in Leesburg.

RELATED:

• White's Ferry Reopening Pushed Back By Ten Months To Early 2022
• White's Ferry near Leesburg, Virginia ceases operations