DOT Updates National Ferry Operators Census for Fresh Data
Published Date: 9/25/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Transportation is updating its National Census of Ferry Operators, which surveys about 260 ferry companies across the U.S. This update will help keep ferry data fresh and useful, with a new report coming soon. Ferry operators should note that comments on the changes are due by October 26, 2026, and the process won’t cost them extra money.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
NCFO Data Drives Federal Ferry Funding
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ NCFO data is used by the Federal Highway Administration to set the formula for allocating federal ferry funds. The funding allocations were based on percentages of passenger boardings, vehicle boardings, and route miles served, per MAP-21 and continued under the FAST Act.
Confidential Business Data: Protected but Shared
The NCFO may collect confidential business information. BTS will protect confidentiality under 49 CFR 7.29, publish only statistical and non-sensitive business information, but may share business-sensitive information with the Federal Highway Administration to support FAST Act funding allocations.
Biennial Ferry Census Requires Responses
About 260 ferry operators nationwide are included in a biennial National Census of Ferry Operators (NCFO). For the 2026 NCFO BTS estimates an average burden of 30 minutes per respondent (20 minutes to answer year-specific questions plus 10 minutes to review pre-populated data), which equals an estimated total annual burden of 130 hours (30 minutes × 260 respondents).
Prefill and Streamlining to Reduce Burden
BTS will prefill certain fields (40 pre-filled data fields) using prior responses and is working to streamline the questionnaire to promote responses; they plan up to 9 cognitive interviews to test instrument changes and aim to update the 2028 NCFO to reduce respondent burden. BTS is also considering an Excel upload option.
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