The Steamship Authority is looking at ways to alleviate congestion in Woods Hole after weather cancellations paired with the terminal construction caused traffic jams last weekend.
Memorial Day weekend, one of the Steamship Authority’s busiest times of the year, got off to an exceptionally rough start on May 23.
After high winds led to ferry cancellations the night before, Island-bound motorists jammed the roads to the Woods Hole terminal Friday morning.
Because construction work at the terminal has limited the amount of room available for vehicles, many drivers were told to come back closer to their sailing time, causing even more traffic chaos in Woods Hole.
“We will admit, we got overwhelmed by the number of people that were coming down that [Friday] morning,” general manager Robert Davis told the Steamship Authority’s advisory port council this week.
“The staff there … were able to get the police details [to the] site to be able to assist in the traffic and keeping the traffic moving as much as possible,” Mr. Davis said.
Director of shoreside operations Alison Fletcher said the May 23 backups followed about 10 trip cancellations the day before.
“Unfortunately, with the current construction plan, the [Woods Hole] terminal had cars in every possible location,” Ms. Fletcher said at Tuesday’s port council meeting.
She and chief operating officer Mark Amundsen are collaborating to prevent a repeat of May 23, Ms. Fletcher said.
“[We] are working on a plan … to potentially pre-stage at different locations, have them all go to that location and then come down in waves as we need them on the property,” she said.
Mr. Davis said the Steamship Authority also intends to hire more terminal workers in Woods Hole and work with the Falmouth police department to add traffic details as needed.
“That way we can be able to help keep the traffic moving [and] improve the safety of the passengers that are walking the site,” he said.
The boat line has also purchased a golf cart to shepherd passengers who have trouble walking through across the lot to the ferries.
“The golf cart that we have on order is due in a week, so that’ll help assist people who have mobility challenges to the terminal, to the vessel, or vice versa,” Mr. Davis added.
The Steamship Authority is about a year away from completing its Woods Hole terminal reconstruction project. The effort began in late 2017 with the installation of a modular temporary ticket building.
The longstanding Steamship Authority ticketing, waiting and office building at the water’s edge was demolished in early 2018; the administrative offices now are located at the boat line’s Palmer avenue property.
In past years, terminal construction has been halted between May and October. But in order to stay on schedule, work is continuing on the ticket building this summer.
Among other business Tuesday, the port council heard from Mr. Amundsen that the next addition to the Steamship Authority fleet, M/V Monomoy, is expected to make its way north from Alabama Shipyard in August.
The third in a trio of sister ships that began their lives as service vessels in the offshore oil industry, the rebuilt Monomoy will be identical to M/V Aquinnah and M/V Barnstable in every way but one.
Based on feedback from SSA crew members who have been running the Barnstable since March, the Monomoy is receiving a $90,000 extension to its skeg, which is an element of the stern keel.
“It helps with steerage,” Mr. Amundsen said.
If the skeg extension improves the Monomoy’s handling compared to the Barnstable and Aquinnah, Mr. Amundsen said, the other two vessels can be retrofitted when they go into dry dock for maintenance.
“We have some options for the skeg [extensions] to be prefabricated and installed, but we want to see the performance,” he said.
Comments
Who designed the new building
Ed OBWho designed the new building and location??? Why is it located in the worst possible location??? This is crazy! Trucks, buses etc… will have a fun time coming and going off the boats… only SSA
Some have suggested opening
Tim Johnson TisburySome have suggested opening the temp 2nd booth now because the conversations at the booth happen for extended amounts of time delaying other customers trips
I'm not understanding why you
DownislanderI'm not understanding why you need a gigantic ticket office when you can now purchase e-tickets with your phone, which I'm sure thousands of people are doing. The view you now get when you come down the hill to the ferry is of a big building blocking sight of the water. What a waste of money, and terrible siting.
Replace the entire Governing
John EdgartownReplace the entire Governing Board. Should have never happened.
“We will admit, we got
Jane Norton Chilmark“We will admit, we got overwhelmed by the number of people that were coming down that [Friday] morning,” general manager Robert Davis told the Steamship Authority’s advisory port council this week.
I'm curious as to why the SSA was so unprepared for this situation. Were they unaware it was a holiday weekend? Did no one estimate the number of vehicles that would be heading into WH based on pre-existing reservations on a reservation-only weekend? Did they look at previous years' data and come up with a plan beforehand, given the known disruption of construction? Did they not look at the weather forecast? Do they need a calculator, pen, paper, and a clock? Contingency planning, anyone?
One word answer, nope
RC DC/OBOne word answer, nope
This comment right here!!!
James Oak BluffsThis comment right here!!!
They know exactly how many people are coming into woods hole! They know the amount of reservations and expected passenger drop offs. It’s not like this is their first year. Holy Cow I didn’t think they could get worse. Why do we allow this??
One word...unprepared.....it
Mark Galkowski YarmouthOne word...unprepared.....it's all part of running a ferry service.....must have a plan and a Plan B
The state should take control
Jim OBThe state should take control of the SSA and focus on driving down costs while increasing vehicle capacity. The spending on unnecessary buildings is out of control and does nothing to alleviate the sold out ferries during the summer months. As more and more large apartment building are built on MV the situation will only get worse.
Amen to that!
Ed MVAmen to that!
Do you actually think having
RC DC/OBDo you actually think having the state take over will drive down costs? I'd like to see the analysis that backs that up.
Start my bulldozing down that
Sara Piazza EdgartownStart my bulldozing down that hideous building in the middle of the parking lot. What were they thinking? Everybody's miserable over there especially the dock workers who now have to have a widescreen TV in their Booth so they can see the dock. What little charm was left in Woods Hole has been obliterated by that monstrosity. Bulldoze it down! Woods hole is a mess right now.
The SINGLE POINT of FAILURE
Bill Hallstein Woods HoleThe SINGLE POINT of FAILURE system referred to as the SSA has known for decades that it should diversify ports and move freight to New Bedford. The SSA needs to be replace by a regional marine transportation system.
Bill Hallstein
SMART CITIZENS TASK FORCE
Your going to ease woods hole
MATT CHILD OF GAY HEADYour going to ease woods hole traffic during construction of un-needed new building......with one golf cart!????? Now I've heard everything......They should have kept one of the old freighter boats tied up and used as a parking lot!!!!!!
This story needs inter-linear
Bob Morris Woods HoleThis story needs inter-linear translation: They should buy several golf carts and club memberships for the whole management team-AND RETIRE THEM.
as to the skegs on the last vessel: just maybe the skeg is being added because these ships can’t make the routes without grounding in shallow Hyannis and at least one spot in Nantucket. Look at the Goverment charts! Who would have thought the draft of the ships might be deeper when 10-15% of length was cut out?? Can a smaller vessel carry the same load? These guys are supposed to know!
The engines governors had to be opened up so the ships cd make the published schedule! A shorter waterline vessel will go slower Duh?
They publicly stated the power plants in the three ships would be updated to conform to current emmissions standards. OOPS, Caterpiller says the engines are NOT upgradable.
The arrogance of obliterating the public’s priceless view of beautiful Woods Hole Passage to build A TOTALLY UNNEEDED UNWARRANTED TICKET OFFICE because the Ma legislature gave SSA the hallowed Enabling Act 65 years ago is beyond imagination. But they’ve done it
The money wasted on the new ticket building, the 3 Mudboats, the ‘maintenance shed’ is likely pushing$100million. And the problems have just STARTED!
Just traveled to/from MV and
John Mort Atwood Circle, EdgartownJust traveled to/from MV and was disgusted at that monstrosity of a cement building in the middle of everything, blocking everything in Woods Hole. What's even more concerning is that the actual building sits LOWER than the loading ramps for each slip - which means when there is a major storm down the road and the water rises, it's all going to flood the building location. What a colossal waste of money and resources! And yes, I bought my mobile tickets while on the bus from Boston so no need at all for a new terminal. Just mind boggling why is is moving forward at all.
Perfectly stated!!
Susan of OB CTPerfectly stated!!
Am I the only one who thinks
Sarah OB/South ShoreAm I the only one who thinks for the “temporary“ terminal is kind of just fine the way it is? It might not be the most aesthetically-pleasing building in the world, but it’s also getting the job done …
Yes - if no one told us that
Peter Shumrak Oak BluffsYes - if no one told us that building was temporary no one would know the difference or even care. That new building needs to be torn down before it goes any further.
It was great when trucks and buses could go straight through. Who is going to be the first to get run over and/or killed crossing the area?
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