III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 490 

Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 26, 2014 

Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. CARPER, and Mr. MENENDEZ) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Cape MayLewes Ferry. 

Whereas, on September 20, 1962, the 87th Congress granted 

consent to the State of Delaware and the State of New 

Jersey to enter into a compact to establish the Delaware 

River and Bay Authority (referred to in this preamble as 

the ‘‘DRBA’’) for the development of the area in both 

States bordering the Delaware River and Bay; 

Whereas the pressures of increasing amounts of traffic, a 

growing population, and greater industrialization indicated the need for closer cooperation between the 2 

States in order to advance their economic development 

and to improve crossings and transportation between the 

2 States; 


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Whereas the Delaware River and Bay Authority was organized on February 6, 1963, to construct and operate 

transportation crossings between the 2 States and its 

first line of business was to update earlier feasibility 

studies for a ferry service connecting southern New Jersey and southern Delaware; 

Whereas DRBA Commissioners immediately resolved, in 

April 1963, to establish the Cape May-Lewes Ferry at 

the earliest possible date following the release of the updated feasibility study; 

Whereas, on July 1, 1964, the very first vessel departed the 

Lewes, Delaware terminal at 6:47 a.m., carrying 8 vehicles and 15 passengers; 

Whereas the Cape May-Lewes Ferry has served as a major 

transportation link in the crowded Northeast corridor, 

connecting north-south traffic from Boston and New 

York City to Washington, D.C. and Florida; 

Whereas the 85 minute, 17 mile journey across the Delaware 

Bay offers an efficient way to cut miles off a road trip; 

Whereas the Cape May-Lewes Ferry has evolved over the 

past 50 years from strictly a mode of transportation to 

one that includes tourism and recreational opportunities; 

Whereas the Cape May-Lewes Ferry offers foot passenger 

shuttle service to destinations in Delaware and New Jersey for a variety of commercial and recreational activities 

on the other side of the Delaware Bay; 

Whereas both bird watchers and bicyclists use the Cape MayLewes Ferry to access the various and numerous trails 

on both sides of the Delaware Bay; 

Whereas the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminals will host festivals to celebrate the highly anticipated 50th Anniversary 


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of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry on June 28, 2014, in Cape 

May and June 29, 2014, in Lewes; 

Whereas the Cape May-Lewes Ferry employs more than 130 

full-time personnel and an additional 330 seasonal workers, adding significantly to the economies on both sides 

of the Delaware Bay; 

Whereas the Cape May-Lewes Ferry operates year-round and 

has carried more than 43 million passengers and 14 million vehicles since the inception of the Cape May-Lewes 

Ferry in 1964; 

Whereas the DRBA continues to invest its resources to improve the services and infrastructure of the Cape MayLewes Ferry, including a renovated ferry fleet and new 

passenger terminal facilities; and 

Whereas the Cape May-Lewes Ferry remains an important 

transportation link, as a waterway continuation of United 

States Route 9 between the State of Delaware and the 

State of New Jersey: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the 

3 Cape May-Lewes Ferry, connecting the communities 

4 of Lewes, Delaware and Cape May, New Jersey; 

5 (2) celebrates the history of the Cape May6 Lewes Ferry as an important transportation and 

7 tourism link between the State of Delaware and the 

8 State of New Jersey; 

9 (3) honors the ongoing role that the Cape May10 Lewes Ferry plays in bringing people together 


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1 through interstate commerce, tourism, and recre2 ation all along the eastern seaboard; and 

3 (4) recognizes the positive contributions that 

4 the Cape May-Lewes Ferry has on the development 

5 and growth of the Twin Capes region of Cape Hen6 lopen, Delaware and Cape May, New Jersey. 

Æ 


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