(News photo from Acadia)
The CAT ferry is expected to sail in 2023.
That’s the message from Public Works Minister Kim Masland.
She told reporters last week that a request for proposals was still underway for a “broad economic impact study” on the service.
Masland says it took time to make sure they got it right.
“This is a study that has never been done before. We need to make sure we get the right scope out of this tender,” Masland says.
She says the study will include many stakeholders, to help understand the impact of the ferry.
Masland says it’s important that taxpayers’ money be spent wisely.
The province expressed disappointment with the number of passengers last season.
Bay Ferries says the CAT carried 36,151 passengers and 14,972 vehicles, making 113 round trips in total with 12 weather cancellations.
Traffic from the United States was 35% lower than in 2018 and American travelers made up about 75% of passengers.
2022 was the first sailing season since 2018 due to the pandemic and ferry terminal work in Bar Harbor.