<p>Due to service cutbacks by the privately-owned Hy-Line, the Steamship Authority is considering a Nantucket route for the new $40 million ferry Woods Hole, now under construction in Louisiana, boat line governor Marc Hanover said.
The Steamship Authority is considering a Nantucket route for the new $40 million ferry Woods Hole, now under construction in Louisiana, boat line governor Marc Hanover told the county commission last week.
Mr. Hanover offered an update on several projects to the commission, which is his appointing authority, at a meeting last Thursday.
Explaining that the privately-owned Hy-Line ferry will only operate a high-speed boat to Nantucket this year, eliminating the conventional ferry it has run in previous years. Mr. Hanover said this may result in more traffic on the SSA’s traditional ferry route to Nantucket. As a result, the Woods Hole, which is designed to carry freight, cars and passengers, may be assigned to the route.
“They are hoping the Woods Hole can go to Hyannis and we can keep three large boats on this side,” Mr. Hanover said. “We really don’t know what to expect when HyLine no longer runs slow boats.”
The Woods Hole is expected to begin ferry service in the summer of 2016.
Steamship Authority governors hold their monthly meeting on Nantucket today.
In other boat line news last week, Mr. Hanover reported that lower fuel costs have saved the SSA $390,000 to date, but said the savings were absorbed by $970,000 in unbudgeted expenses. “Vineyard Haven pilings were $400,000 more than anticipated or budgeted,” he said. “The changes in Vineyard Haven were $250,000 for the parking lot. Improvements on the Island Home needed $400,000 more work. That money was needed.”
The future of the long-term parking lot in Woods Hole is in question, he said. The SSA rents the lot from the town of Falmouth at an annual cost of $210,000. About 300 vehicles, most of them owned by Island residents, use the back lot. But Falmouth town officials are now considering using all or part of the lot for public parking, to provide easier access to Woods Hole visitors, merchants and workers.
“I don’t know how this is going to play out,” Mr. Hanover told county commissioners. He noted that the town has no legal access except at the back end of the lot. The SSA owns the land nearest the terminal, where people currently take a shuttle into the parking area and exit in their vehicles. “I don’t think the town of Falmouth has taken into consideration policing, maintenance, cleaning, security. I would like to work out some kind of a deal back there. I’m not sure how that would come about. We’re being patient,” the Vineyard governor said.
This year the SSA issued annual parking permits only until Dec. 31, when the parking lot lease ends.
Work on the Vineyard Haven terminal staging lot is complete, Mr. Hanover said. The spring project included removing the shelter along Water street, and creating two travel lanes in the temporary pick-up and drop-off parking area. The project also added another ticket booth and travel lane at the entrance of the lot.
“I’m watching it, Mr. Hanover said. “I haven’t seen anything backed up yet, definitely getting traffic off the street. The only problem is we have two lanes exiting, and they’re holding up traffic, so it’s taking longer to unload the boat.”
Mr. Hanover also said the SSA may adjust freight boat scheduling this year.
“There’s an issue in Tisbury with large trucks coming off the boat early in the morning, clogging up Five Corners,” he said. “We’re talking about moving some of the early morning freight boats to Oak Bluffs. It would be far less intrusive.”
Comments
“They are hoping the Woods
Jack A. West Tisbury“They are hoping the Woods Hole can go to Hyannis and we can keep three large boats on this side,” Mr. Hanover said
If I were on the county commission, I would ask Hanover to resign. How could they build a boat and not be sure that it could be used on the Nantucket route if needed. Why isn't management/board being held accountable for NOT creating a design specification that the boat be usable by both routes.
Maybe this a way to get rid of this over priced boat from the Martha's Vineyard run?
Mr. Hanover said. “I haven’t
Dean R. TisburyMr. Hanover said. “I haven’t seen anything backed up yet, definitely getting traffic off the street. The only problem is we have two lanes exiting, and they’re holding up traffic, so it’s taking longer to unload the boat.” – I thought expedience was the whole point. Did they not see this coming? That was a lot to spend.
Now it seems much clearer why
TOM HODGSON WTNow it seems much clearer why the SSA consistently refused to give the Island the double-ended vessel that most folks here wanted. It looks an awful lot as if this new boat was never intended to serve MV, and was destined for Nantucket all along.
Common sense to have all
T B NantucketCommon sense to have all boats transit all ports is to much common sense that it would make sense.
The SSA is a bloated,
Jack A. West TisburyThe SSA is a bloated, inefficient and arrogant organization. How can we, the voters, express our displeasure with the current management/board?
Can the SSA also invest just
DJK NantucketCan the SSA also invest just a little more in technology? They updated the web site to make it look better but it's still the slowest web site I've ever seen. Lipstick on a pig.
Technology isn't one of their
Jack A. West TisburyTechnology isn't one of their strong suits. Why do they promote WIFI on their boats, when they don't have it available where most of the revenue dollars come from. Namely, the freight deck. Many people stay in their cars/trucks on the passage to the vineyard. Most freight decks (Island Home, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Governor, lack wifi. Why? Incompetence.
It should have been mentioned
Marie TisburyIt should have been mentioned in the article that half of the price of the ferry Woods Hole is being paid for by Martha's Vineyard, the other half by Nantucket. If it becomes dedicated to the Nantucket run, they should pick up the whole tab. As far as the back lot in Woods Hole goes, the town of Falmouth is guaranteed no less than $210,000 a year on the back lot lease. In addition to this, they collect the income from about fifteen metered parking spaces in the front lot. Falmouth also collects what, about $350,000 a year in disembarkation fees. Can anyone name one thing that Falmouth has done with that money which is mandated to be spent on traffic mitigation? Can you spell G-R-E-E-D? Falmouth has both hands in the cookie jar!
So much for replacing the
Ken EdgartownSo much for replacing the governor which we got for free...lol...40 million
The MV Woods Hole is going to
Traveller Cape & IslandsThe MV Woods Hole is going to the Hyannis/Nantucket run because of how it will go over when Vineyarders realize they're spending $40 mil on a garbage hauler. That's what it will be doing on the WH to the Vineyard run, hauling off the trash. So better off sending the expensive trash scow to Hyannis, less questions to answer.
Second, there's never been a boat as big that has sailed into or from Hyannis. That should be very interesting! The SSA knows by now that the passenger money to Nantucket is made by the fast boat. The numbers have been up every year, by large amounts. So any story about Hyline not having a slow ferry somehow mattering where the SSA puts the new scow is just a red herring.
The SSA contracted with
william simmons Hertford NCThe SSA contracted with Elliott Bay to deign the Island home then Washington State Ferry built three vessels of that class free plans??? Now they design the Woods Hole which is very similar to the Nantucket/Naushon of the 1956 vessel If the Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket have served and been successful why not just update the interior design we already know the hull design is functional has ability to utilize all the ports the SSA seems afraid to keep just one design not like in the 1920's when Islander,Nobska and New Bedford joined the line.
Does anyone know how can I
Lynn New YorkDoes anyone know how can I access the Steamship Authority? The website has been down for weeks and I can't get a human being to answer the phone. When I call for general information and press "0" for a person, it rings and rings and goes back to the original recording.
Durring my time at sea as a
Randy Reichard St. Petersburg Fl.Durring my time at sea as a Tug Boat Captain ( 20yrs. ) Ihave found that Multi-Vessels smaller and Cheaper to operate And able to maintain service when maintenance and repairs are needed on the fleet cost effective, operate vessels on a as needed basis,Much cheaper to operate than large vessels all the time Simple MATH Just a little Food for Thought!!!
Add new comment