In preparation for holiday travel over the upcoming Easter and Spring breaks, the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Ferry Division will be enhancing the schedule on its Hatteras-Ocracoke route between March 31 and April 13.

The temporary Spring schedule will increase the number of daily round-trip runs between Hatteras and Ocracoke from 18 to 26, with half-hour departures for most of the morning and afternoon hours. "Our ridership data shows a distinct spike in the weeks surrounding Easter," said Ferry Division Director Ed Goodwin. "We're confident this enhanced schedule will accommodate those travelers."

The Hatteras-Ocracoke schedule will be as follows between March 31-April 13:

Departures from Hatteras: 5 a.m., 6, 7, 8, 8:30, 9, 9:30, 10, 11, 11:30, noon, 12:30 p.m., 1, 2, 2:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 5, 5:30, 6, 6:30, 8, 9, 11, and midnight.

Departures from Ocracoke: 4:30 a.m., 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 12:30 p.m., 1, 1:30, 2, 2:30, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 9:30, 10:30, and 12:30 a.m.

After April 13, the Hatteras-Ocracoke schedule will return to its off-season schedule for three weeks before switching to a full summer schedule on May 6.