By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Mar 12, 2005 at 5:11 AM

{image1} Lake Express, the high-speed ferry connection between Muskegon, Mich. and Milwaukee, has made some big improvements relating to passenger comfort in its off-season. The biggest change is that sophisticated, computer-controlled ride stabilization equipment will be installed on the vessel -- it's the same technology used on the most luxurious ocean-going yachts.

This spring, two T-foils, one on each of the catamaran hulls, will be installed. These will sense and respond to wave motion. And when movement is detected, interceptors mounted onto the T-foils raise and lower, instantly making adjustments to reduce turbulence.

The work will be done in a shipyard in either Michigan or Wisconsin and is expected to take about three weeks to complete. The cost of the improvements is approximately $450,000.

Lake Express will start its second season of travel on May 14. The ship will make three round-trips daily throughout the summer. Fares remain the same at $50 for a one-way ticket and $85 round trip with an additional $1.25 per-passenger fuel surcharge each way. For more information and to make reservations, please call 1-866-914-1010 or visit lake-express.com.