Lynchburg Ferry

The Lynchburg Ferry is a ferry across the Houston Ship Channel in the U.S. state of Texas, connecting Crosby-Lynchburg Road in Lynchburg to the north with the former State Highway 134 and San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in La Porte to the south. The convert|1080|ft|m crossing is the oldest operating ferry service within the state of Texas.cite news
first =
last = Staff Reports
coauthors =
title = State of suspension
publisher = The Houston Chronicle
page = 19A
date = May 28, 2003 ] cite news
first = Matthew
last = Cook
coauthors =
title = Waterway traffic - County studies operation
publisher = The Houston Chronicle
page = 1A
date = December 16, 2004 ]

It carries automobiles, bicycles and pedestrians for free. Harris County has operated the ferry continuously since 1888.cite web
work = Harris County Precinct Two
title = Lynchburg Ferry
url=http://www.co.harris.tx.us/comm_garcia/LynchburgFerry.aspx
accessdate = 2008-04-26 ] Ferries depart daily approximately every 5-10 minutes, beginning at 4:30 a.m. (04:30) and operate through 8:15 p.m. (20:15) and have a maximum capacity of 12 vehicles. The service averages between approximately 1,500-2,000 vehicles per day.

The service has two ships in its fleet, both completed in 1964 by the Todd Shipyard. The ferries are named in honor of former the Texas governors William P. Hobby and Ross S. Sterling. A third ferry with a capacity of 9 vehicles dating from 1937 is available on standby if needed.cite news
first = Tara
last = Parker
coauthors =
title = 6-week repairs to close Lynchburg Ferry runs
publisher = The Houston Chronicle
page = 30
date = September 12, 1991 ]

History

The present-day location of this ferry can trace its origins back to 1822 when it was constructed by Nathaniel Lynch just below the confluence of the San Jacinto River and the Buffalo Bayou and was known as Lynch's Ferry.cite web
author = Diana J. Kleiner
work = The Handbook of Texas On-line
title = Lynch's Ferry
url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/LL/rtl1.html
accessdate = 2008-04-26 ] The ferry was used by the Republic of Texas troops fighting Mexican forces in the Battle of San Jacinto April 1836. In what was later referred to as the Runaway Scrape, as many as 5,000 Texans fled eastward to escape the advancing army of Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna utilizing the ferry. In the following days, Sam Houston's army defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto, which resulted in Texas independence.cite news
first = Bill
last = Murphy
coauthors =
title = Ferry upgrades grounded Shipyards' hurricane, drilling work make new boats a low priority
publisher = The Houston Chronicle
page = B1
date = April 17, 2006 ]

By 1837 the Harris County Commissioners Court would set formal ferry rates only to eliminate them in 1890, and the ferry service has been free ever since. By 1949 the ferry service was renamed as the Lynchburg Ferry in serving as the first vehicular crossing of the Houston Ship Channel.

The service would operate 24 hours per day, 365 days a year under the operation of Harris County through June 2004 when hours were reduced to their current times. Replacement vessels have been under consideration by the county since late 2004, but have yet to be ordered.

Accidents and incidents

* February 26, 1995 - A barge struck the south landing resulting in the closure of the service for over eleven weeks.cite news
first =
last = Staff Reports
coauthors =
title = Repaired Lynchburg Ferry reopens this morning
publisher = The Houston Chronicle
page = 33
date = May 11, 1995 ] The service would reopen on May 11, 1995.
* September 19, 2004 - A woman drowned after the vehicle she was in was driven off the ferry into the channel. The driver was subsequently charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death.cite news
first = Glenn
last = Mike
coauthors = Peggy O'Hare
title = Car's driver charged in crash, drowning - Teen passenger died when vehicle fell off the ferry
publisher = The Houston Chronicle
page = B1
date = October 13, 2004 ]
* May 14, 2008 - A man appeared to deliberately drive his truck into the Houston Ship Channel, authorities said, refusing help from horrified witnesses who were waiting to board the Lynchburg Ferry. Witnesses say the man locked doors and refused help before going under. cite news
first = Glenn
last = Mike
title = Driver plunges into Ship Channel
publisher = The Houston Chronicle
page = B2
date = May 15, 2008 ]

References

Crossings navbox
structure = Crossings
place = Houston Ship Channel
bridge = Lynchburg Ferry
bridge signs =
upstream = Sam Houston Ship Channel Bridge
upstream signs =
downstream = Fred Hartman Bridge
downstream signs =