Reliant on summer tourism for their economies, the Cape and Islands have far more that unites than divides them, from a lack of affordable housing to looming climate changes.
Reliant on summer tourism for their economies, the Cape and Islands have far more that unites than divides them, from a lack of affordable housing to looming climate changes.
Against serious issues of sustainability, the incessant griping from a group of Falmouth residents about early morning truck traffic on the Woods Hole Road seems petty and parochial.
The complaints bubbled up again at a public hearing held early this week as the Steamship Authority begins to prepare its 2022 summer schedules for the Martha’s Vineyard route.
The ongoing bone of contention is over the 5:30 a.m. freight ferry which has operated for many years from Woods Hole to the Vineyard in the summer months. Residents along the Woods Hole Road want the SSA to eliminate the early trip, claiming noise from the trucks is a nuisance, waking them in the wee hours, compromising their health.
It’s time for the Vineyard to push back. The loudest voices in the room don’t necessarily represent the majority.
Eliminating a longstanding ferry run that carries necessary goods to the Island in the peak summer months would have cascading consequences on the Vineyard, creating a backlog for trucks that depend on making early deliveries before our own narrow streets become clogged with traffic.
Early truck deliveries are the norm everywhere, and on the Island they help with summer traffic management to boot. But beyond that, blaming the Steamship Authority and the Vineyard for every truck that comes through Falmouth only serves to foster divisions at a time when what’s needed is thoughtful dialogue on both sides of the sound.
In fact, presented in a different way, managing growth and the traffic that by necessity accompanies it is a topic that Islanders could warm to.
The Steamship Authority is at capacity in the peak summer months and has not expanded service despite pressure to do so. How to manage existing traffic flow and map the future are real issues for all the port communities.
Why not clear the slate for a fresh start, and get transportation planners at the Cape Cod Commission and Martha’s Vineyard Commission involved in brainstorming creative solutions.
Because endless whining and harsh rhetoric aren’t going to get us where we need to go.
Comments
This is an uninformed
Islander Martha’s VineyardThis is an uninformed editorial, whose main point, among other things seems to be to push back against genuine complaints that the extremely early boats that (I believe run all year, not just in the summer) are impacting our neighbors health. This editorial is hardly reaching out with an olive branch. It is antagonistic and as an Islander I find it astonishing that we would attack the community that essentially allows all traffic and transport to pass through them simply to serve our bloated tourist industry. Can you imagine how they actually feel for a second?
I'm tired of this olive
realism Vineyard HavenI'm tired of this olive branch mentality. Woods Hole needs to be boycotted by everyone that leaves this island for a day trip or pass through. Tired of hearing how bad vineyard's are, how we don't care about "our neighbors" and we need to be nicer. Woods Hole residents are even thought of as out of touch with living on a State Highway by their larger brethren, the town of Falmouth.
Why should we suffer? This ferry system is our lifeline for more than just food and construction equipment but workers, including hospital workers imported daily on the 5"30 AM boat that work at MV Hospital. We receive more than sheets of plywood and restaurant food deliveries but food for the meals on wheels programs, medicine and other important life items. We use the 5"30 am off the island for medical appointments and other necessary appointments that only an early boat will get us.
Woods Hole residents care nothing about you. Wake up and realize we need the SSA and we need the 5:30 am boat.
Yeah, who cares if other
Carl Oak BluffsYeah, who cares if other people pay the price for the early delivery of our fresh soy milk for our lattes? Some elderly person getting jolted awake at 5 am by a truck jake-braking down Woods Hole Road is a small price to pay for the on-time delivery of our fresh berries and cream. We wouldn't want those delivery trucks on our streets at 10 am, that would inconvenience Islanders! We might have to wait to cross the street to enjoy our fresh berries and cream with our soy lattes because the delivery trucks are blocking the crosswalks.
Islanders have never been accused of caring about their neighbors, now we can include the Gazette Editorial board in that group. I hope you don't ever need Woods Hole and Falmouth support in the future because your complaints about being ignored might be seen as "petty and parochial".
Be the better person - care about the people who are dealing with this, and help find a better solution for all. That's how this World will improve. Not by dismissing your neighbor's concerns as 'petty'.
Sorry, gotta go - my latte is getting cold.
WHEN YOU BUY A HOUSE ON A
GJH AquinnahWHEN YOU BUY A HOUSE ON A STATE HIGHWAY, EXPECT THE TRAFFIC AND NOISE! YOU BUY, YOU MOVE IN AND NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO LIMIT TRAFFIC ALONG THE ROUTE! DID YOU SEE WHERE YOU BOUGHT THE HOUSE! THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEAMSHIP AUTHORITY HAVE BEEN THERE MORE YEARS THAN YOU! NO SYMPATHY HERE, MOVE!
When you buy a house on an
EdgartownWhen you buy a house on an island you should expect great inconveniences. Dependent on tourism and the kindness of the residents of Falmouth. When you buy a house on an island who provides life saving medical treatment? You need Falmouth, be nicer.
Thanks for ‘fostering
Bob Morris Woods HoleThanks for ‘fostering thoughtful dialogue”.
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