Frequently Asked Questions

Employment - What jobs are available? How do I apply?

Pontchartrain Express Inc. initially will employ crew members for the ferry, administrative office and security personnel for the landing sites.

Crew members will include: three captains plus a relief Captain for a total of four (4) and six (6) stewardesses plus two relief stewardesses for a total of eight (8). This will bring total crew members to 12.

Administrative personnel will include: one manager plus a total of nine employees for ticketing/serving/scheduling, and other related administrative tasks to cover the North Shore and South Shore offices.

Three security guards will be employed for attending during night time hours on the North Shore where the main office is located.
Total shore personnel 13
Total employees 25

The Pontchartrain Express 1 is expected to be in operation by late summer or early fall 2011. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming part of the Pontchartrain Express team send an email with your resume and qualifications to info@swifterries.com subject Employment.

Note: A second vessel/ferry will need the employment of an additional 12 crewmembers.

Are there refreshments, snacks, newspapers, etc available for purchase on the Ferry?

Yes, there will be refreshments (coffee, water, soda, juices, teas, etc.) and light refreshments (muffins, chips, bagels, pre packaged sandwiches, etc) which will be catered in by a local Mandeville coffee shop. During special events and possibly some night trips beer, wine and spirits will also be available for purchase.

Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction - How will Pontchartrain Express help the environment?

An average of 350 commuters per day will use the ferry services, resulting in a reduction of traffic of approximately 350 cars per day crossing the Causeway. The average car will use approximately one gallon of gas for every 20 miles. The total distance for the commuter per day is 70 miles or 3.5 gallon of gas for a round trip roundtrip. The 350 cars will consume a total of 350 x 3.5 gallons = 1225 gallons of gas per day.

The ferry will make 5 complete trips per day with commuters for 1.5 hours per trip, or 7.5 hours. The ferry consumes 120 gallons per hour resulting in a total consumption of 900 gallons of diesel fuel. The daily consumption of the shuttle buses will be approximately 100 gallons. The energy conservation directly contributed to the reduction of commuter traffic will be 225 gallons, or 260 x 225 gallons = 58,500 gallons per year, in excess of 18%.

According to the Regional Planning Commission New Orleans Metropolitan Area, the fuel savings are translated into a reduction of carbon emissions. "CO2 accounts for approximately 95% of vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, and can be fairly easily quantified based on gallons of gasoline or diesel. The EPA finds that 1 gallon of gasoline produces roughly 19.4 pounds of CO2, while a gallon of diesel produces roughly 22.2 pounds. (source: EPA, Average Carbon Dioxide Emission Resulting from Gasoline and Diesel Fuel, http://www.epa.gov/oms/climate/420f05001.pdf)"

"For the assumed daily change from 1225 gallons of gasoline to 1000 gallons of diesel (assuming the shuttle bus also runs on diesel), you would be reducing CO2 emissions by 406,900 lbs. per year."

Increased spending patterns - Could Pontchartrain Express positively affect the economy on the North and South Shore?

According the survey results, the desire of the North Shore residents to visit the attractions in New Orleans such as the French Quarter, Zoo, Aquarium and shopping center was clearly demonstrated. The spending of the North Shore residents in the New Orleans area will indeed have an economic impact, and will contribute to the revitalization of the city.

Numerous South Shore residents who considered a move to the North Shore for various reasons, and who have not moved due to the commute across the causeway, may be induced by the ferry service to reconsider.

Tourists, conventioneers and residents on the South Shore will be enticed to visit the North Shore and do the sightseeing of old Mandeville, Madisonville, Abita Springs and Covington, river trips on the Tchefuncta River and Bayou Lacombe, and various other festivals and events throughout the year.