White's Ferry Study To Find Ways To Reopen Transportation Service

ROCKVILLE, MD — Officials from Montgomery and Loudoun counties will conduct a study to evaluate options to help reopen White's Ferry — which connected the two jurisdictions up until last year by way of the Potomac River.

The study will examine roadway access to the ferry, legal and regulatory requirements for the ferry, landing site improvements, landing location options, and operating alternatives, like a public and private partnership, according to officials.

Montgomery County says the study is expected to begin within the next month and be completed within 90 days of the start date.

"Restoring the operation of a Potomac River Ferry between Montgomery County and Loudoun County as soon as possible is critically important to reducing travel times to and from Virginia for many of our residents," said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. "This connection across the Potomac will also provide more Virginians access Montgomery County businesses and our growing agritourism sector. Plus, the ferry ride is just plain fun."

White's Ferry, which began operating in 1786, is located about six miles from the town of Poolesville in Montgomery County. The ferry shuttled vehicles and passengers across the Potomac River to Loudoun County, where it docked. But it ceased operations in December 2020 following a legal dispute with Rockland Farm, which owned the land in Virginia.

Rockland Farm alleged in a lawsuit that White's Ferry was using the property without paying rent since the end of a licensing agreement in 2004. According to court documents, the agreement was terminated after White's Ferry had construction done on the property without the go-ahead from Rockland Farm.

Siding with Rockland Farm, Loudoun County Circuit Court Judge Stephen E. Sincavage ordered White's Ferry to pay more than $100,000 in damages. White's Ferry closed soon after that.

It was later purchased by husband-and-wife-duo Chuck and Stacy Kuhn. They originally planned to get the ferry operational by April 2021, but had to delay it until early 2022.

SEE ALSO:

• White's Ferry Ceases Operations Following Legal Dispute
• White's Ferry Reopening Pushed Back By Ten Months To Early 2022