LCT suspends service at Essex ferry on Jan. 4

ESSEX | Cross-Lake Champlain commuters, medical patients, educators, and school children will have to navigate past a closed ferry dock here. Lake Champlain Transportation announced they will suspend service at the Essex–Charlotte crossing starting Jan. 4, 2021. "With significantly reduced traffic due to the impacts of the pandemic, we find it necessary to concentrate our resources to maintain service at the Grand Isle, VT–Plattsburgh, NY crossing. We will return service at this (Essex) crossing as quickly as we are able," the company said in a news release Dec. 14. Vermont enacted strict two-week quarantine measures for tourists and vacation visitors from New York, neighboring states, and most of the U.S. But travel remains open for people who commute to or from Vermont for essential needs, such as college courses, healthcare or specialist medical appointments, and jobs or work delivery. Suspending Essex to Charlotte ferry service cuts off a central connection point from Essex County towns to Burlington, pushing commuters to travel around via the Champlain Bridge about 30 miles south at Crown Point or to LCT's Grand Isle Ferry in Plattsburgh some 35 miles north. The distance adds nearly an hour each way to any medical trip or commute. "Updates on the reopening of the Charlotte, Vermont–Essex, New York, crossing will be sent via our text and e-mail notification system," LCT said. Winter ferry travel is reduced at Essex in LCT's normal seasonal schedule. One boat usually leaves on the half-hour during daylight hours. Essex Town Supervisor Ken Hughes said he has begun working with local boards and elected officials to formulate a response. "Personally, I'm supremely disappointed on behalf of so many that require the ferry to operate for medical, educational and professional reasons," he said. LCT ferries at Plattsburgh to Grand Isle crossing will continue to operate daily, 24 hours a day. This is not the first time the Essex to Charlotte crossing closed due to the covid-19 pandemic. The company enacted the same change on March 19 as covid infection rates began to climb and strict limits were placed on travel. LCT reopened the Essex ferry service after about six weeks.

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LCT suspends service at Essex ferry on Jan. 4

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