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NC Ferry maintenance facility could be coming to Craven County

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston

Published December 5, 2023 at 6:14 AM EST

North Carolina ferry passengers can now receive text or email alerts on schedule changes via the new Ferry FINS system.

A new federal grant will help the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division improve customer service.

A $400,000 Federal Transit Administration grant will study the possibility of designing and building a second facility where state crews could perform in-water maintenance - so boats could be returned to service quicker. The Ferry Division will provide a $100,000 match to fund the study.

Currently, the NCDOT Ferry Division has one maintenance facility, the Manns Harbor Shipyard in Dare County. The planning study will explore the conceptual site design for a larger, better equipped depot-level maintenance facility at the Cherry Branch Terminal in Craven County.

Annette Weston

Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.

See stories by Annette Weston