Grafton Officials Give Updates, Answers On Ferry Service Plans

January 2026 Ferry Public Hearing Meeting

GRAFTON – A public hearing was held last Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 at Grafton City Hall to answer questions from the public about the purchase and future operation of a ferry service connecting Grafton and Missouri.

“We’re moving forward with the purchase of the ferry … we’re very excited about this,” Mayor Mike Morrow said. “We’re looking at operating the ferry seven days a week, 365 days a year – and so that’s going to be a big boon for the region for tourism.”

The ferry is currently scheduled to operate on Mondays through Thursdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. with an estimated “Grand Opening” date of April 10, 2026.

The city’s current plan is to offer passes for one-way trips at $10 each, or weekly passes of 10 trips for $70 each. The latter option would amount to a 30% discount for frequent ferry users or regular weekly commuters at $7 per trip.

Morrow said the local business community has been especially supportive of opening a year-round ferry service, adding that it could save time for commuters coming to and from Missouri. City officials emphasized that the “consistency” of this ferry service will be key to driving traffic and tourism revenue.

The City of Grafton secured a $1.45 million grant from IDOT for the project last year, of which $878,000 will be used to purchase the ferry with $580,000 allocated for the first two years of operational costs. Morrow said the city will purchase the ferry sometime prior to the estimated start of operations on April 10, 2026.

A few members of the public submitted feedback prior to the meeting, including Lou Jones, a self-described “captain for hire” based in St. Charles County. Jones said he previously had to turn down work in Grafton because of the distance and agreed the year-round ferry service would lead to a boost for the Grafton economy.

City officials also answered questions from meeting attendees and gave a few status updates on the ferry project.

In August of 2025, the city applied for a grant from the federal government for the design and construction of a hybrid diesel-electric ferry. While they have since received a naval architect’s proposal to design the ferry for $253,000, the city has not yet received any response regarding their federal grant application. If their application is approved, the federal grant would cover 80% of the vessel’s $10 million estimated construction cost, and the city is currently seeking other grants to cover the remaining 20%.

One resident asked what would happen to the original ferry once the new hybrid ferry is operational; city officials replied that the original ferry will be used as a “backup.”

Morrow spoke highly of the Calhoun Ferry Company and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for their work in partnering with the city on the ferry project. Under the currently proposed contract, the city would own the ferry, while the Calhoun Ferry Company would be responsible for operations, maintenance, and insurance.

A full recording of the Jan. 16, 2026 public hearing is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.

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