Portland advocates outline $20 million plan for ‘Frog Ferry’ pilot connecting Cathedral Park to South Waterfront

PORTLAND — Supporters of the volunteer-run Frog Ferry told the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade on May 21 they have raised about $40 million in project value and are asking state and city officials for roughly $20 million to start a pilot passenger ferry connecting Cathedral Park and South Waterfront.

"We've already derisked this project by $40,000,000," said Susan Bladholm, founder and president of Frog Ferry. "What we need to get us from today to putting a boat on the water is $20,000,000." Bladholm spoke during an informational presentation to the committee, along with Alicia Chapman, founder and CEO of Willamette Technical Fabricators.

Advocates said the pilot would run a single, fully electrified 70-foot passenger vessel carrying about 70 people, operating five to six days a week. The group proposed a $3.50 one-way fare and half-price fares for honored citizens. They told the committee the Cathedral Park–RiverPlace pilot trip would…