Canadian American Transportation Systems announced today that it will stop operations Wednesday of the high-speed ferry between Rochester and Toronto, claiming accumulating debt has made it unable to continue service.
The ferry’s halt is a major blow to economic development efforts in Rochester and could be a major black eye for the community for decades.
“This is a very difficult decision, but until the other parties involved fulfill their promises and obligations, we have no choice,” said Cornel Martin, president of CATS, in a news release sent out to members of Rochester’s state delegation.
It’s unclear if and when service will resume. CATS officials could not be reached for comment.
The ferry, which started service in June, has been stung by a series of problems, even before it officially launched.
The private ferry company has been weighed down by some unexpected costs early on, including customs fees and high fuel prices. Also, the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection hasn’t allowed commercial trucks on the ship yet, depriving CATS of a much-needed source of revenue.
CATS states in the news release that it has accumulated more than $2.1 million in debt with no offsetting revenues during a seven-week delay of the vessel, after it hit a pier in New York City. Operations were scheduled to begin May 18.
Mayor William A. Johnson Jr. said he’s been pleading with CATS this afternoon to delay the ferry’s closure, saying he and other political leaders were working feverously to rectify outstanding issues.
http://www.rochesterdandc.com/apps/pbcs.dl...NEWS01/40907003