Passengers travel in comfort. Instead of asphalt and bumpers, people are discovering America's riverine communities and their wildlife. All of these are important elements in Vice President Gore's Livable Communities Initiative. Mobility is a DOT strategic goal. There's no law that says people have to travel by car, bus, train or subway if there's a river, lake or bay in their backyard.
Ferries are logical, affordable and fun.
About 1 out of every 7 of our 1,200 passenger vessels operating on domestic waterways is a fast ferry. New catamaran ferries are being built in Sitka, Alaska right now. Potomac River Jet is preparing to start a ferry service right here in the Nation's Capital Region by year's end. They will have lower wake hull designs, and simpler building techniques. It has been a pleasure to speak to you today.