Download Free Lake Michigan Carferry Service Book in PDF and EPUB Free Download. You can read online Lake Michigan Carferry Service and write the review.

The iconic Lake Michigan car ferry Badger has been providing reliable service between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, since its maiden voyage on March 21, 1953. Originally built as an ice-breaking ferry hauling railroad freight cars, the Badger now transports passengers, automobiles, recreational vehicles, motor coaches, and commercial vehicles including standard-size tractor/trailers and specialized oversized load trailers. The Badger is the last surviving operational example of a large network of railroad ferries crossing Lake Michigan that had once provided a time-saving shortcut for freight shippers, bypassing the long, circuitous route around the bottom of the lake through Chicago's railyards. Today, the Badger performs a different role, saving time, fuel, and mileage for regional tourists and cross-country travelers, and has been designated the continuance route of US Highway 10. Currently under the ownership of Interlake Maritime Services, the historic 410-foot-long ferry begins its seventh decade of service, continuing to bring joy and adventure to new generations of riders as it contributes to the economic vitality of the cities of Ludington and Manitowoc and surrounding regions.
The purpose of this research is to investigate the state of ferry transit operations in North America and to develop practitioner guidance for the planning, marketing, operation, and management of ferry transportation systems. The research is intended to present a uniform understanding of the status of ferries as well as options for how to approach planning and operational activities. This guidebook is intended for use by operators large and small, in publicly or privately owned operations, for the development of ferry operations as a solution to a transportation need. This research was developed through literature searches of previous studies, reviews of existing government and state documents, telephone interviews with a broad selection of ferry operators, in depth case studies of eight ferry operators and ferry systems geographically dispersed across the North American continent, and peer review of the interim documents. The main body of this report contains the case studies and a guidebook. Two appendices provide additional information to support the work documented within the main body of the report. Appendix A provides a listing of literature review sources, and Appendix B documents the results of a survey of ferry operators that was developed and implemented in this research.