by Tim Rowland

ESSEX | The Lake Champlain ferry between Essex and Charlotte, Vt., will resume service on Monday, Feb. 8, after being closed for a month, the company announced on its website and in a text message.

“Starting Monday, February 8, 2021 the Charlotte, VT-Essex NY crossing will resume service with our winter schedule,” the company announced in its text. “The Grand Isle, Vt.,-Plattsburgh, NY crossing will continue running as scheduled.”

Lake Champlain Transportation Company closed its southernmost ferry route due to a Covid-related business slowdown, a move that drew a strong reaction from the Essex community that depends on the crossing for healthcare, education and shopping.

“I extend my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude not only to the Lake Champlain Transportation Company for finding a way to reopen this essential crossing between NY and VT, but to the great number of people who took the time to call, write, email and advocate for the reopening of the crossing,” said Essex Supervisor Ken Hughes. “So many people on both sides of the lake now have it a little bit easier during a time when life has been so very difficult. Thank you to everyone for their efforts.”

At a Feb. 1 meeting of the Essex County supervisors, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY21, said her office had been in touch with the ferry company and reopening the Essex route was a priority. She said the company would be eligible for another round of stimulus — a previous allocation had helped it maintain its routes last year.

Along with reduced business, Stefanik said the company had also had trouble finding adequate help needed to run all its boats.

Republished from the February 3 edition of The Sun, an Addison County weekly newspaper.

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