Grafton City Council Approves Ferry Purchase

20 January 2026 Grafton City Council Meeting

GRAFTON – Grafton City Council members unanimously approved the purchase of a ferry at this week’s meeting, taking the first steps needed to launch a daily ferry service which has been years in the making.

Once preparations are complete on an estimated “Grand Opening” date of April 10, 2026, the ferry will operate seven days a week, 365 days a year. The currently proposed schedule is from 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.

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

Council members approved multiple ferry-related items at their Jan. 20, 2026 meeting, including a Ferry Operations Agreement and Ferry Purchase Agreement. Also approved was the establishment of the “Grafton Ferry Fund” as a separate checking account for the city, as well as the transfer of $6,644 from the city’s General Fund into the new Ferry Fund.

As Mayor Mike Morrow previously stated at an earlier public hearing on the ferry purchase, the city will own the ferry after purchasing it from the Calhoun Ferry Company (CFC). Under the agreement, the CFC will still be responsible for operating and maintaining the ferry.

The City of Grafton was awarded a $1.45 million grant from the Illinois Deaprtment of Transportation (IDOT) for the project in 2025. Of this amount, $878,000 is being used to purchase the ferry and $580,000 will be set aside to cover the first two years of operations.

A full recording of the Jan. 20, 2026 Grafton City Council meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.

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