On Tuesday, January 10, 2006 Mayor Robert Duffy made the very difficult decision to discontinue ferry service. All of the parties involved including former Mayor William A. Johnson Jr. and the Rochester Ferry Company had the best of intentions. But, the sad reality was that the ferry lost $10 million in 10 months and that was deemed too great a financial risk to the city of Rochester.
The Rochester Ferry was a victim of insufficient marketing due to shortage of startup time. It is the personal opinion of Omar Aboya of TorontoHarbour.com that the City of Toronto and the local businesses in the area should have really come together and supported the project instead of allowing it to languish. We benefited greatly economically, but gave nothing. In order to succeed, the ferry needed to have a high profile in Toronto. Instead it was allowed to accumulate staggering debt and die a slow death.
I have found the citizens of Rochester to be the most courteous and friendly anywhere and my personal friendships with those that I have befriended will only get stronger. To the citizens of Rochester I say....
Rochester Rocks!
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