Ferry schedule changes

I received this in email recently and thought it might be of interest to some of the blog readers, so here you go!

FERRY DIVISION ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO HATTERAS-OCRACOKE
WINTER SCHEDULE
Number of runs reduced to lower fuel costs

MANNS HARBOR — The North Carolina Department of Transportation's Ferry Division today announced changes to its schedule at the Hatteras to Ocracoke route in an effort to reduce fuel.

Ferries are now making hourly runs instead of half-hour runs from 5 a.m. until midnight daily, based upon traffic demands. Double ender vessels will be used on first and second runs to increase capacity and ensure vendor traffic is handled. The 10 p.m. departure will not run unless there is significant traffic.

An amended schedule will be run over the holidays to allow for visitors. From Nov. 25-30 and from Dec. 16 to Jan. 5, 2009, half hour runs will be added from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with the hourly runs continuing as stated above. Also if traffic is heavy, half hour runs will be added as early as 7:30 a.m. through as late as 6:30 p.m.

Additional ferries will be available to assist with traffic, if needed, and a contingency plan is in place in the event of special circumstances.