Earlier today, White’s Ferry owner Chuck Kuhn released a statement saying that Rockland Farm, the Virginia landing site for the ferry, had rejected a $1.1 million dollar offer to purchase the Virginia site. In the statement, Kuhn also announced his intentions to sell the ferry to Montgomery County; “We have run out of options and will now seek to sell the ferry land and operations to Montgomery County so it can work to invoke eminent domain and acquire the Virginia landing site.”
Rockland Farm tells us, “the reason that Rockland Farm turned down the $1.1 M combined offer from Loudoun County, Montgomery County, and Mr. Kuhn is that we will not accept a flat fee for our Virginia landing.” Rockland Farm has stated on several occasions that it was requesting $.50 per vehicle. “All that it would have taken to get the ferry open would be to increase the fee by 50 cents per ride for the use of our landing, but Mr. Kuhn said no.”
Full statement from Rockland Farm below:
“Mr. Kuhn’s willingness to sell the Maryland ferry assets to Montgomery County is good news. If the price is disclosed, Rockland Farm will consider buying the ferry assets for the same price and will bring in an independent ferry operator to get a ferry up and running again without further ado.
The reason that Rockland Farm turned down the $1.1 M combined offer from Loudoun County, Montgomery County, and Mr. Kuhn is that we will not accept a flat fee for our Virginia landing. We favor a volume-based fee that varies with the amount of traffic encroaching upon our land and will work with either county to accomplish that.
We have also located a nationally based company that will work with both sides to get a ferry up and running again and operate it. However, Mr. Kuhn has refused to work with this company and has told them that he intends to be the ferry operator.
Rockland Farm has also made an offer to both Montgomery and Loudoun Counties for a permanent easement on our Virginia landing in exchange for a volume-based fee. Our offer is still on the table.
Finally, we are willing to work with Loudoun and Montgomery Counties to explore realigning our landing, acquiring a vessel, putting in a maintenance facility and operating the ferry from Virginia using an independent operator”.
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3 comments
They want 50 cents a car? Please US govt, remove this land from these people and use it to create bridges. These farm owners are holding northern VA traffic hostage. It is already a huge problem and these locals are looking for a get rich quick scheme. Punish these selfish selfish people.
.50 per car is selfish???
Have you driven the Greenway or new 66 toll lanes lately…
This has been going on for way too long. Commuters are suffering extended trips wasting gas and time. $.50 a car does not seem excessive except it’s added to the crossing fee. I don’t understand why this can’t be mediated successfully. Declare eminent domain on each shore and be done with it.
Alternatively, a new bridge would eliminate all of this. It’s been under discussion for decades. The bridge at Point of Rocks is fantastic but too far north. With so many people now working from home, there isn’t as much traffic. Surely there’s a solution.