Lake Express Ferry Is Still Popular
Lake Express Ferry Is Still Popular
Despite rising diesel prices, regional floods and economic uncertainty, the Lake Express Ferry is on course to match last year’s business performance.
The
company kicked off its fifth season in May with a 20% fare increase to
cover a 76% annual rise in the price of diesel fuel, leading some to
speculate that the season would be “all about the price of fuel.” The
ferry is propelled between Milwaukee and Muskegon, Mich., by four
Rolls-Royce water jets, and is the only high-speed car ferry operating
in the United States.
Rising
pump prices for drivers were also a concern early on, but not so much
now, says Aaron Schultz, market analyst for the ferry.
“We
considered gas prices as an issue early on, but seeing the way travel
rebounded, it’s clear that weather, rain and flooding were much larger
factors in folks staying home early in the summer,” he says. “Sure,
people were cutting back on daily driving due to gas prices, but once
it came time to take a summer vacation, they hit the road again.”
Schultz
says that July and August business closely tracked last year’s levels.
“We sold out time and time again,” he says. Additionally, the ferry
transported 1,500 motorcycles in the days before and after
Harley-Davidson’s 105th anniversary celebration.
The
service offers two round trips a day from May 1 to early June, three
round trips a day from June to Sept. 1, and a reduced schedule from
Sept. 2 to Nov. 2, making each 80-mile leg in two-and-a-half hours.
Schultz
says about 15% of passengers are business travelers, and more than 40%
are on two- to four-day vacations. He says the primary motivation for
taking the boat is “avoiding Chicago traffic.”
According
to a UW-Madison study, the Lake Express Ferry contributes $25 million a
year to Milwaukee County’s economy, and employs more than 200 people.
Definition of the Week
Catch-up effect
In any period, the economies of countries that start off poor generally grow faster than the economies of countries that start off rich. (Source: Economist.com.)
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