Congressman Cohen, US Coast Guard Announce Re-Opening of Auction Street Bridge Boat Ramp

In 2007, during an extensive real property audit of U.S. Coast Guard property in Memphis, TN, it was discovered from the Shelby County Records Office, that the Auction Street Bridge Boat Ramp and the adjacent property is federally owned and belongs to the U.S. Coast Guard. The boat ramp and adjacent land were previously believed to belong to the City of Memphis. The U.S. Coast Guard informed the City of Memphis of the discovery, cancelled the existing lease agreement with the City of Memphis, and closed the boat ramp due to liability, safety, and base security concerns.

"I was very pleased to learn that the boat ramp under Auction Ave. will reopen this summer," said Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09). "I have been working diligently with Memphis city officials and the U.S. Coast Guard to come to an agreement to allow for city and public use of the ramp, and today the Coast Guard announced that they have come to terms on a license for its use. This was a complicated legal issue and I am very pleased that I was able to help in the mediation of this conflict."

“We are thrilled to have come to agreement with the City of Memphis that will re-open the boat ramp and grant broader access to the Mississippi River and her tributaries to the public,” said Captain Michael Gardiner, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector Lower Mississippi River.

In addition to access by the public, the lease will grant full access to the ramp for the Memphis Police Department and Memphis Fire Department.

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Contact:
COHEN: Charlie Gerber, 202-225-3265
U.S. COAST GUARD: Lieutenant Michael Block, 901-521-4845