Leadership from the V.I. Public Works Department took to the airwaves Thursday evening to answer questions about the development of a public ferry servicing St. Croix and St. Thomas.

Public Works Commissioner Derek Gabriel said the department’s vision “is to create a seamless and sustainable interisland public marine transportation system that connects communities, supports daily life and commerce, and enhances the overall experience for residents, students, commuters, tourists and local businesses across the islands.”

Funding for the ferry project came from the government’s recent sale of $150 million worth of Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle bonds, which allow states and territories to issue securities in anticipation of reimbursement from federal assistance grants. The territory secured more than $90 million for infrastructure projects by issuing GARVEE bonds in 2015, and Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. approached the 35th Legislature in November about issuing a second round to fund road improvements, a second phase of work on Veterans Drive and the new ferry service.

Karole Ovesen-McGregor, deputy commissioner of transportation at Public Works, said Thursday evening that the department had unsuccessfully applied for a number of grants to support interisland travel between St. Thomas and St. Croix over the years before the GARVEE bonds made purchasing a new ferry possible. Once operational, she said, residents will be able to travel between islands easily and affordably.

“It will also give the Department of Education and many schools the opportunity to transport a number of students in large groups without having to pay the exorbitant cost of air travel,” she said. “The ferry service will provide opportunities for intramural sports as well as academic competitions that students are able to participate in.”

McGregor said families will be able to travel more easily for weddings — and, unfortunately, for funerals — and local businesses will be able to provide goods and services across the territory.

According to a design mock-up shared by the department’s highway program manager, Jomo McClean, the catamaran-style ferry will be able to carry up to 198 passengers and 16 vehicles. Because the bonds are backed by anticipated grants administered by the Federal Highway Administration, the ferry is required to complete its route — between Charlotte Amalie and Gallows Bay — in under 90 minutes. McClean said the department is working on amending the route to have the ferry call in Red Hook.

Though affordability was mentioned several times, McClean said later that fees for using the ferry haven’t been ironed out.

“That will be determined once the vessel is fabricated and we select an operator for that,” he said. “But I just want to note that the cost will be, I guess, in conjunction with the Public Services Commission. Since this would be a … federal marine transportation route, the rates must be controlled by a government entity.”

Several listeners submitted questions related to the existing ferry servicing St. Thomas and St. Croix, the QE IV. More than once, Gabriel recognized QE IV and other ferry operators for sharing ridership data “that allowed us to be even competitive” for grants like one the department received in 2023 to purchase the Spirit of 1733, which now services the route between Red Hook and Cruz Bay. Gabriel recognized that QE IV has been “running the route between St. Croix and St. Thomas with very little subsidy.”

“We’ve actually been in contact with them and trying to figure out how they can be a part of the process,” he said.

Later, Gabriel said the department is aiming to have the ferry in Virgin Islands waters by the end of 2026, “but we understand that we have not gone into procurement yet.”

“The bid package is due for solicitation hopefully in early November, and that will dictate when the ferry will go into operation,” he said.