Ocracoke Island recently received something important: the full attention of North Carolina’s transportation leadership.
A visit on May 5 by Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson and 17 of the 20 North Carolina Board of Transportation board members along with the NCDOT district managers and high-level Ferry Division and DOT staff was more than ceremonial.
It represented an opportunity for the decision makers to see one of the state’s most isolated communities who face transportation challenges unlike anywhere else.
For Ocracoke, ferries and the NC 12 highway are not conveniences. They are lifelines.
The day for the visitors began with a ride on the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry from Hatteras Island, a luncheon at the Berkley Manor Barn, prepared by Ocracoke Catering, then a tour of the village using the free seasonal tram service.
The DOT officials had an opportunity to meet with Hyde County leaders, National Park Service representatives and some of the island’s dedicated volunteers and discuss the realities of life on Ocracoke.
The luncheon featured three island speakers who captured both Ocracoke’s heritage and its urgent needs.
Kenny Ballance, whose family roots here stretch back to the 1700s, spoke about the enduring strength of Ocracoke’s close-knit community.
Island historian and storyteller Philip Howard offered a vivid memory from his childhood — an adventurous ferry crossing of Hatteras Inlet with Captain Fraser Peele long before the creation of the state Ferry Division. His story served as a reminder that ferries are woven deeply into the island’s identity and history.
Justin LeBlanc, executive director of the Ocracoke Access Alliance, brought the discussion firmly into the present.
He emphasized the critical need for a dependable ferry system and improvements to NC 12, a highway increasingly vulnerable to overwash and storm damage. His message was clear: without reliable transportation, Ocracoke’s economy, safety and future remain at risk.
On their way north to take the vehicle ferry back to Hatteras Island, they made a stop at the north end to see the critical “hot spot” along NC12 with its nearly two miles of sandbags to ward off the ocean’s angry waves when storms strike the island.
For Ocracoke, ferries and the NC 12 highway are not conveniences. They are lifelines.
Seeing overwash-prone areas in person leaves an impression that statistics cannot.
The visit itself required considerable effort and coordination. Credit belongs to Tess Judge of Kitty Hawk, the regional board member, along with Hyde County Commissioner Chair Randal Mathews and County Manager Kris Noble.
Their persistence ensured that transportation leaders saw these challenges firsthand rather than merely reading reports in Raleigh.
The significance of this visit cannot be overstated.
The Ferry Division has an aging fleet with several boats that need to be replaced and its operating budget needs to be increased.
Ferry disruptions isolate residents, interrupt tourism and threaten emergency access.
Meanwhile, repeated overwash along NC 12 at the north end of the island continues to expose the fragility of the only road connecting ferry terminals and the village.
Addressing these issues will not be easy, and it certainly will not be cheap. But postponing action will only increase costs later.
Gov. Josh Stein’s proposed budget includes full funding for ferry operations and additional support for transportation needs.
According to LeBlanc, the Ferry Division requires at least $85.5 million annually to maintain operations. The Board of Transportation also backed Stein’s proposed $24 million in new non-recurring funding.
Yet, uncertainty remains.
As we go to press North Carolina still lacks an enacted state budget, due primarily to ongoing disputes over tax cuts and employee raises delaying action in Raleigh.
The Senate budget proposal included a fee of $20 each way across the Hatteras Inlet, the House proposal did not.
At this time, we don’t know whether a toll will be included in the budget.
Charging a fee is a delicate balance. We acknowledge the need to increase revenues while not to impose a fee so high that would discourage visitors, especially the day-trippers who venture down from the Upper Banks.
A reliable ferry service and a resilient NC12 are essential infrastructure that support public safety, tourism, commerce and the preservation of one of North Carolina’s most unique communities.
It needs a lasting commitment.
North Carolina has a budget surplus so large that it will trigger a tax cut next year. They have given millions of dollars to people who wish to send their children to private schools, the majority of whom were already attending said schools. North Carolina has the money, what they lack is the will.
I agree completely with this Editorial.
So glad to read this!
It’s time to bring Ocracoke transportation ferries, infrastructure, and access into the 21st century! Let’s be bold and focused NOW!