Why Aren’t There More Mississippi Riverboat Ferries in Missouri?

I'm going to ask a question that I think I know the answer to, but why aren't there more ferries across the Mississippi River from Missouri to Illinois and vice versa? Has the need for these completely disappeared?

Are you old enough to remember the era when riverboat ferries across the Mississippi were found up and down the river in Missouri? Surely I'm not the only one. Do you realize that according to the Missouri Department of Transportation there are only 5 remaining riverboat ferries in Missouri? Here are the ones they have listed:

• Location: Dorena
• Route: Dorena, MO to Hickman, KY
• www.dorena-hickmanferryboat.com

I remember KHQA reported back in 2015 when the Canton, Missouri ferry shut down forever. According to the story at the time, there were $335,000 in repairs that needed to be done, but the states couldn't find the dollars to get it done.

Snarky me would probably make some comment about how government finds really stupid things to spend money on and how they should have found a way to keep ferries going, but I understand that to have nice things, we have to pay for them.

I don't know if your situation is one where you would take advantage of these ferries if they were still around, but I sure would and I would gladly pay to get it done. Perhaps I was born late and this era has come and gone and will never return, but I have the feeling that I'm not alone missing these transports across the Mississippi River.