Six regularly scheduled ferry runs have been cut effective Sunday, as traffic to the Island begins to decline. Other transit agencies are taking steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The Steamship Authority on Sunday released statistics showing a modest increase in out-of-state vehicles coming to the Vineyard in the first half of March, as Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker urged residents with second homes on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard to stay home.
Leaders at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital said Wednesday morning they expect to see the first positive case of Covid-19 on the Island within a matter of days.
Breakdowns, delays and cancellations plagued the Steamship Authority fleet over the holiday travel week.
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services recently received funding from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to fund the Transportation Access Program (TAP) to assist Island residents with off-Island travel expenses due to medical and/or behavioral health appointments.
The days are shorter, the air is cooler and the kids are back in school — but this is still tourist season on Martha’s Vineyard, where fall is second only to summer as the Island’s busiest time.