Let’s think big about bay electric ferry plan

A March 5 commentary by Dan Rodricks in The Baltimore Sun advocates for a bay-wide system of electric ferries. Due to hydrofoil technology and advanced composite constructionthe plan would utilize high-speed vessels that can actually reduce commuting and cross-bay transit times.

Two aspects of this plan that haven’t been mentioned are vessel construction and ferry terminal location. These boats would need to be built in the U.S. to operate as domestic ferries. This could revive the moribund ship-building industry in the area.

But to make high-speed ferries viable, the terminals should be located outside of the six-knot speed limit zones in most harbors. This would make the Baltimore Peninsula an ideal location for that city and the former David Taylor Research Center (DTRC) on the Severn River perfect for Annapolis.

An August 2023 article in The Banner, written by Rick Hutzell, informed us that as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process, the “Joint Spectrum Center, or JSC entered a 25-year agreement to remain at the Severn River site.” Hutzell also informed us that “language added to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act by U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland requires the Defense Department to move the Joint Spectrum Center” to Fort Meade. Let’s hope this happens so this rundown eyesore can become something valuable for Annapolis.

The old DTRC is a large waterfront campus with some massive buildings. What if a world-class U.S. Naval history museum was built at this location? If something like the WW II museum in New Orleans was developed, this would be a day-long destination for Annapolis and Baltimore tourists. And what better recruitment tool could the Navy ask for than a museum where schoolage kids could tour ships and learn about the service’s storied history?

Let’s think big about how we can environmentally connect more people with the bay and Annapolis. Both have a proud history that needs to be shared.