DRAFT MEMORANDUM
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
RE:
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July 25, 2013
Ferry Compact Members
Thomas J. Humphrey, Chief Planner, Transit Service Planning,
CTPS
Revised Draft Inventory of Ferry Boat and Other Passenger Water
Transportation Services in Massachusetts as of 2013
INTRODUCTION
This draft memorandum presents findings to date under Subtask 1.1 of the
technical services contract between CTPS and the Massachusetts Ferry
Compact, which requires CTPS to provide an inventory of the ferry systems in
the Commonwealth. This inventory, based on work originally produced by
CTPS in 2001-02, includes:
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Route endpoints and, if applicable, intermediate stops
Number of trips operated on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Range of time intervals between trips for routes with more than one trip
each way per day
Capacities and top speeds of the boats used on each route
Fares
Sources of operating subsidies, if applicable
In addition to the items listed above, the 2013 inventory includes information
about boat terminals and the land-side connections to them, and ridership
figures, if available. Data collection for this inventory is ongoing, and further
information may be added as it becomes available.
The study area for the Ferry Compact extends between Gloucester/Rockport
and New Bedford, and includes Cape Cod and the Islands. The inventory
includes information about commuter, airport, and Harbor Islands ferries and
water taxi services, and multipurpose routes. Thus, the current inventory
maintains the same geographic coverage and categories of data as in the
2001-02 inventory. Special-purpose routes such as dinner cruises, whale-watch
cruises and sightseeing cruises are included only to the extent that ferries
share terminal facilities with these services.
Descriptions of 2013 services are based on the most recent information
published by the operators of each route at the time this memorandum was
prepared; but schedules, fares, and vessel assignments are subject to change.
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The remainder of this memorandum is arranged according to the following 10
water transportation services:
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Year-round Boston commuter boat services
Seasonal local transportation routes from Boston
Seasonal service to Provincetown
Service to Martha’s Vineyard
Service to Nantucket
Service to Cuttyhunk
Service to Boston Harbor Islands
Boston Harbor water taxis
Cape Ann water shuttle
Scheduled cruises in Boston Harbor
YEAR-ROUND BOSTON COMMUTER BOAT SERVICES
Currently, all year-round Boston commuter boat services are operated by
private companies under contracts with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation
Authority (MBTA), which sets the fares for these services.
2.1
Hingham Shipyard to Rowes Wharf, Boston
2.1.1
Route Location and Operator
This route runs from the former Hingham Shipyard at Hewitts Cove on
Weymouth Back River to Rowes Wharf in Boston, with no intermediate stops.
Service is operated under contract with the MBTA by Nolan Associates, LLC,
doing business as Boston Harbor Cruises (BHC). Selected trips are operated
by Massachusetts Bay Lines under sub-contract from BHC.
2.1.2
2013 Schedule
Currently, Hingham commuter boat service operates on weekdays only, with 18
trips per day in each direction. This includes 15 trips each way operated directly
by BHC and 3 each way operated by Massachusetts Bay Lines. Departures
from Hingham begin at 6:00 AM and end at 7:40 PM. Rowes Wharf departures
are from 6:50 AM to 8:30 PM. Headways vary by time of day, with intervals as
short as 15 minutes during peak hours and as long as 3 hours and 30 minutes
at midday. The scheduled travel time is 35 minutes in each direction.
2.1.3
Vessels Used on Route
BHC employs a mixed fleet of 350-passenger vessels on the Hingham route.
These currently include the catamarans Aurora and Asteria, with top speeds of
about 30 knots each, and the 20-knot monohull craft Ruth E. Hughes (formerly
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the Laura).Trips operated by Massachusetts Bay Lines use the Massachusetts,
a 20-knot monohull craft..
2.1.4
Fares in 2013
The single-ride fare is $8.00, with half fares for seniors, persons with
disabilities, and junior and senior high-school students with Student
CharlieCards. Ten-ride tickets are available for $80.00. Monthly passes—also
valid for travel on all directly operated MBTA services, other MBTA-subsidized
water transportation services, and commuter rail zones 1 through 5—are priced
at $262.00. Commuter rail passes for zones 6 through 10 are also valid on this
route.
2.1.5
Annual Ridership
Ridership on the Hingham route totaled 687,413 trips in the MBTA’s fiscal year
(FY) ended June 30, 2012. The net subsidy cost to the MBTA for this route was
$3,161,234, or $4.60 per passenger. The current fares were implemented on
July 1, 2012 and are 33% higher than fares that had been in effect since 2007.
From July 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013, total ridership on the Hingham route was
down 3.6% compared with the same months in FY 2012.
2.1.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
At the Hingham terminal, a 1,841-space park-and-ride lot is owned by the
MBTA and managed by LAZ Parking. The lot includes 10 accessible spaces
and 8 bicycle spaces. Parking rates are $4.00 a day or $70.00 for a monthly
parking pass.
MBTA bus Route 220 (to the Quincy Center Red Line station from Hingham
Depot) serves a stop on Lincoln Street, Hingham at Shipyard Drive. This stop is
about 0.25 miles from the Hingham Dock. Some AM peak-period inbound
(toward Quincy Center) and PM peak-period outbound trips on Route 220
make diversions on Shipyard Drive to the boat terminal. Local MBTA bus fares
apply on this route. Adult bus fares are $1.50 with a CharlieCard or $2.00 with
a CharlieTicket. The most recent passenger survey, conducted in 2008, had no
responses from passengers arriving at the Hingham terminal by bus. Park-andride access was reported by 91% of the respondents.
Rowes Wharf in Boston is owned by Equity Office Management, LLC (Equity).
Boat operators docking at Rowes Wharf (including contract operators of
commuter boat service) pay fees to Equity for use of the wharf. Floating docks
and gangways used primarily for commuter boat service are owned by the
MBTA.
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The Hingham commuter boat is used predominantly by passengers making
round trips starting at the Hingham terminal. There are no dedicated parking
facilities for boat passengers at Rowes Wharf, but there are many commercial
parking lots and garages within walking distance.
There is no direct public transportation service to Rowes Wharf from the land
side. Aquarium Station on the MBTA rapid transit Blue Line and South Station
on the MBTA rapid transit Red Line are both about 0.3miles from Rowes Wharf.
At South Station connections can also be made with all south-side MBTA
commuter rail lines, Amtrak intercity passenger trains, several local MBTA bus
lines, and private-carrier commuter and intercity bus lines. However, the 2008
survey had no responses from Hingham boat passengers transferring to or
from transit services at South Station other than the Red Line.
2.2
Quincy (Fore River) and Hull (Pemberton Point) to Logan
Airport and Long Wharf, Boston
2.2.1
Route Location and Operators
This route runs from the former Fore River Shipyard in Quincy to Long Wharf in
Boston. Most boats making round trips from Quincy stop at Logan Airport either
before or after stopping at Long Wharf. Selected trips make an intermediate
stop at Pemberton Point in Hull. Effective July 1, 2013, certain peak-period trips
arrive at or depart from Central Wharf in Boston instead of Long Wharf.
Until June 30, 2013, service was operated under contract with the MBTA by
Water Transportation Alternatives (WTA), doing business as Boston’s Best
Cruises. In FY 2012, the net subsidy cost to the MBTA of this service was
$845,839. On May 22, 2013, the MBTA awarded a contract to Nolan
Associates, LLC, doing business as Boston Harbor Cruises, to operate this
route for 3 years and 9 months beginning July 1, 2013, for a reported cost of
$15,793,105, which would be partly offset by fare and parking revenue.
2.2.2
2013 Schedule
In the winter and spring of 2013, this route operated on weekdays only.
Saturday and Sunday service, which had been discontinued on September 4,
2012, was restored on June, 1, 2013. The non-summer and summer 2013
schedules provided the same number of weekday round trips per day, but
departure times of some midday trips changed slightly. On Monday through
Thursday, 23 trips were scheduled in each direction between Quincy and Long
Wharf. On Fridays, an additional late-night trip in each direction was scheduled.
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Of the 23 inbound trips:
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Five trips operated nonstop between Quincy and Long Wharf; but the
boats returned to Quincy on trips that stopped at Logan Airport on the
way.
One trip operated nonstop between Quincy and Long Wharf until June
28 and nonstop between Quincy and Central Wharf starting July 1,
using a boat that did not continue with an outbound trip.
Fourteen trips stopped at Logan on the way from Quincy to Long
Wharf.
Four AM peak-period trips from Quincy to Long Wharf made an
intermediate stop at Hull. One of these trips also stopped at Logan.
The boat on one of the three trips that stopped at Hull but not at Logan
did stop at Logan on the way back to Quincy.
Effective July 1, the Boston terminal of one AM peak-period trip that
stopped at Hull but not Logan inbound and returned non-stop to
Quincy was changed from Long Wharf to Central Wharf.
Starting July 1 for the summer, two inbound midday trips that stopped
at Logan but not Hull in other seasons also stopped at Georges Island.
Of the 23 outbound trips:
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Eleven trips operated nonstop between Long Wharf and Quincy until
June 28. Starting July 1, one of these trips originated at Central Wharf
instead of Long Wharf, and two others made intermediate stops at
Georges Island.
Six trips from Long Wharf to Quincy stopped at Logan, including one
evening trip that also stopped at Hull.
Six trips from Boston to Quincy (one at midday, four during the PM
peak period, and one in the evening) stopped at Hull, but not at Logan.
Five of the trips that did not stop at Logan were made by boats
returning from Long Wharf after making inbound trips that did stop at
Logan.
Starting July 1, one of the trips that stopped at Hull but not Logan
outbound originated at Central Wharf instead of Long Wharf. This was
not one of the five trips made by boats that stopped at Logan on the
preceding inbound trips.
At Long Wharf, Central Wharf, and Quincy, most scheduled layover times
between trips are short enough to allow passengers to make indirect trips such
as Logan to Quincy via Long Wharf or Hull to Long Wharf via Quincy at times of
day when more direct service is not provided.
Currently, Monday through Thursday, departures from Quincy begin at 5:45 AM
and end at 9:10 PM. The extra Friday trip leaves at 10:00 PM in the winter and
spring and at 10:10 PM in the summer. On Monday through Thursday,
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departures from Long Wharf begin at 6:35 AM and end at 9:45 PM in the winter
and spring and end at 9:50 PM in the summer. The extra Friday trip leaves at
10:35 PM in the winter and spring and at 10:50 PM in the summer. Headways
vary by time of day, with intervals as short as 20 minutes during peak hours
and as long as 1 hour and 10 minutes at midday in the summer.
The first inbound departure from Hull is at 6:05 AM and the last at 9:00 AM, at
intervals ranging from 50 to 65 minutes. The first outbound departure from Hull
is at 12:55 PM in the winter and spring and at 1:15 PM in the summer. The last
outbound departure from Hull is at 9:30 PM in the winter and spring and at 9:40
PM in the summer. Intervals between trips range from 35 minutes to 3 hours in
in the winter and spring or 2 hours and 45 minutes in the summer.
Scheduled travel times between Quincy and Long Wharf vary depending on
which intermediate stops, if any, are included. In the winter and spring
schedule, with no intermediate stops, the scheduled time is 30 or 35 minutes in
each direction. Inbound trips with one intermediate stop at Logan are
scheduled to take 40 minutes, with departure from Logan 10 minutes before
arrival at Long Wharf. Outbound trips with one intermediate stop at Logan are
scheduled to take 45 minutes, with departure from Logan 15 minutes after
departure from Long Wharf. In the summer schedule, two midday inbound trips
stop at Georges Island 20 minutes after leaving Quincy and at Logan 30
minutes after that, arriving at Long Wharf 1 hour after leaving Quincy.
In all of the schedules, trips in either direction with one intermediate stop at Hull
are scheduled to take 45 minutes, with departure from Hull 20 minutes before
arrival at Long Wharf inbound or 20 minutes after departure from Long Wharf
outbound. After leaving Quincy, one inbound trip is scheduled to leave Hull 20
minutes later and Logan 37 minutes later and arrive at Long Wharf 10 minutes
after leaving Long Wharf (47 minutes from Quincy). After leaving Long Wharf,
one outbound trip is scheduled to leave Logan 15 minutes later, arrive at Hull
35 minutes later, and arrive in Quincy in 1 hour from Long Wharf.
In the summer weekday schedule, the two outbound trips with additional stops
at Georges Island do not make any other intermediate stops. They are
scheduled to leave the island 25 minutes after leaving Long Wharf and to arrive
in Quincy 45 minutes after leaving Boston.
Saturday service, implemented on June 1, 2013, provides 18 round trips
between Quincy and Long Wharf. Of these trips, 7 inbound and 4 outbound
trips make intermediate stops at Logan. Starting July 1, six trips in each
direction stop at Georges Island, including 3 inbound trips that also stop at
Logan. There are no Saturday stops at Hull. Scheduled times for non-stop trips
between Quincy and Long Wharf are 30 to 35 minutes in each direction.
Scheduled end-to-end times for trips with one intermediate stop at Logan are
40 to 45 minutes. Trips with intermediate stops only at Georges Island are
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scheduled for 50 minutes between Boston and Quincy. With intermediate stops
at both Logan and Georges Island, the time between Boston and Quincy
increases to 60 minutes.
The Sunday service, implemented on June 1, 2013, provides 14 round trips
between Quincy and Long Wharf, including 7 inbound and 4 outbound trips
making intermediate stops at Logan. Starting July 1, six trips in each direction
stop at Georges Island, including 3 inbound trips that also stop at Logan. There
are no Sunday stops at Hull.
2.2.3
Vessels Used on Route
Most service on this route is provided by the catamarans Flying Cloud and
Lightning, each with a capacity of 149 passengers and a top speed of 30 knots.
These are owned by the MBTA, having been acquired from WTA in 2002 when
that company stopped providing unsubsidized service. The sale price of $4
million included, in addition to the two boats, loading docks in Quincy and
Boston, a park-and-ride lot at the Quincy terminal, and office space.
Before July 1, a few peak-period trips were provided by the Voyager III, a 350passenger catamaran with a top speed of 30 knots. This boat was originally
used for whale-watch cruises provided by the New England Aquarium. It is still
used by Boston’s Best Cruises for whale-watch cruises, but these trips are no
longer sponsored by the aquarium. Starting July 1, the trips formerly made by
the Voyager III were made by the Cetacea, the Boston Harbor Cruises whalewatch catamaran. These trips now arrive and depart from the north side of
Central Wharf. The Cetacea has a capacity of 250 passengers and a cruising
speed of 29 knots.
2.2.4
Fares in 2013
Fares between either Quincy or Hull and Long Wharf are the same as the fares
between Hingham and Rowes Wharf, discussed above in section 2.1.4.
Between either Quincy or Hull and Logan, the one-way full fare is $16.00, with
half fares for seniors, passengers with disabilities, and students; there is also
an $8.00 fare for passengers with commuter boat monthly passes. Between
Long Wharf and Logan, the full fare is $13.00, and the reduced fare is $6.50.
No multiple-ride tickets are sold for travel between Logan and any of the other
stops on the route.
2.2.5
Annual Ridership
For the MBTA’s FY ended June 30, 2012, the Quincy/Hull/Logan route
ridership was reported separately for four end-point pairs. Ridership was
reported as 162,229 between Quincy and Long Wharf; 148,083 between Hull
and Long Wharf; and 34,989 between Quincy and Logan Airport. Ridership
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between Logan and Long Wharf or between Logan and Hull was not shown
separately. During summer months, some trips between Long Wharf and
Quincy made an intermediate stop at Georges Island. These trips carried
12,470 Georges Island riders. Total reported ridership for WTA service
operated under MBTA contract in FY 2012 was 357,771. The net subsidy cost
to the MBTA of $845,839, averaged $2.36 per passenger.
The present fares on the Quincy/Hull/Logan route were implemented on July 1,
2012, and are 33% higher than the fares that had been in effect since 2007. In
addition, weekend service on this route was suspended from September 4,
2012 to June 1, 2013. From July 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013, ridership
between Hull and Long Wharf, which ran only on weekdays even before the
service changes, decreased 5.3% compared with the corresponding interval in
FY 2012. In the first 10 months of FY 2013, ridership between Quincy and Long
Wharf was down 35.4% and ridership between Quincy and Logan was down
31.6%, reflecting both the fare increase and the suspension of weekend
service.
2.2.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
At the Quincy terminal, a 350-space park-and-ride lot is owned by the MBTA
and managed by LAZ Parking. The lot includes 10 accessible spaces and has
no bicycle spaces. Parking rates are $4.00 a day, $8.00 overnight, or $48.00
for a weekly (7-day) parking pass.
There is no direct public transportation service to the Quincy boat terminal from
the land side. MBTA bus Route 225 (Weymouth Landing to Quincy Center) has
several variations, including one with a stop at East Howard Street and
Desmoines Road in Quincy, about 0.3 miles from the Quincy boat terminal.
Local MBTA bus fares apply on this route. In the 2008 passenger survey, there
were no responses from passengers using bus access to the Quincy boat
terminal. Almost all of the respondents reported using either park-and-ride or
drop-off access.
In the vicinity of the Hull terminal, 100 parking spaces in lots owned and
managed by the Town of Hull are designated for use by boat passengers.
Parking in these lots is free.
Bus Route 714 from Hingham Depot to Pemberton Point is operated by
Joseph’s Transportation, Inc., under contract with the MBTA through the
private-carrier program. There are scheduled close connections from buses to
boats in the AM peak period and from boats to buses in the PM peak period,
but these connections are not guaranteed. Fares on this bus route $2.00 for
adults or 75 cents for students, seniors, and passengers with disabilities. MBTA
monthly passes and 1-day or 7-day LinkPasses are valid (the latter only if
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printed on paper CharlieTickets that include a current date). The 2008 boat
passenger survey found that in the heaviest travel season, only 16 AM peakperiod riders per day (7.6%) transferred to boats from Route 714.
The majority of passengers boarding or alighting from boats at the Logan
Airport dock are airline passengers, with the balance primarily airport
employees. The boat dock at Logan is beyond reasonable walking distance
from the airline terminals, especially for people with luggage, and the most
direct walking routes are not pedestrian-friendly. The 2008 survey results
showed that almost all passengers alighting from the Quincy/Hull boat route at
Logan transferred to free shuttle buses operated for Massport under contract
by Paul Revere Transportation. There were no survey responses from
passengers boarding boats at Logan.
The majority of passengers on the Quincy/Hull route make round trips to
Boston starting at Quincy or Hull. Long Wharf (except for non-marine buildings
located there, such as the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel) is owned by the Boston
Redevelopment Authority. Gangways and floating docks used for commuter
boat service at Long Wharf are owned by the MBTA. Boats on the Quincy/Hull
route arrive and depart on the north side of the wharf. There are no dedicated
parking facilities for boat passengers at Long Wharf, but there are many
commercial parking lots and garages within walking distance.
Central Wharf, which is used instead of Long Wharf as the Boston terminal for
a few peak-period trips on the Quincy/Hull route, is owned and maintained by
the New England Aquarium. These trips are provided by the same boat that
Boston Harbor Cruises uses for whale watch cruises from this wharf, discussed
in section 11.6.1.
Aquarium Station on the MBTA rapid transit Blue Line has an entrance at the
inner end of Long Wharf. Nevertheless, the 2008 passenger survey found that
the vast majority of passengers alighting from Quincy/Hull boats at Long Wharf
completed their trips by walking. Only 11.5% transferred to the rapid transit
system, and 4% transferred to the Charlestown ferry. There were no survey
responses from passengers boarding Quincy/Hull boats at Long Wharf.
2.3
Charlestown Navy Yard to Long Wharf, Boston
2.3.1
Route Location and Operators
This route runs from the old Charlestown Navy Yard, now mostly converted to
civilian uses, to Long Wharf on the downtown Boston waterfront. Service
operates under contract with the MBTA by Boston Harbor Cruises.
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2013 Schedule
In the spring and summer of 2013, service on this route was operated daily. On
weekdays, there were 39 trips in each direction. Departures from Long Wharf
began at 6:30 AM and ended at 8:00 PM, with Navy Yard departure spans 15
minutes later. Headways in each direction were 15 minutes during peak hours
and 30 minutes in midday and evening hours. The scheduled travel time was
10 minutes in each direction. On Saturdays and Sundays, there were 17 trips
each way on 30-minute headways, leaving Long Wharf from 10:00 AM to 6:00
PM and the Navy Yard 15 minutes later.
2.3.3
Vessels Used on Route
BHC typically uses boats with top speeds of 10 to 20 knots and certified
capacities of 149 to 200 passengers (including exterior seating and standing
capacity) on this route. Two vessels are needed for weekday peak service.
Weekday off-peak and weekend schedules require only one vessel. At the end
of June 2013, the two vessels being used were the Rookie (formerly the
Bostonian II) and the Claire (formerly the Anna and originally the Gracious
Lady). These boats each have capacities of 149 passengers. The Rookie has a
top speed of 10 knots, and the Claire has a top speed of about 20 knots.
2.3.4
Fares in 2013
The one-way fare is $3.00, with fares of $1.50 for seniors, persons with
disabilities, and junior high or high school students with student CharlieCards.
Ten-ride tickets are $30.00 for full-fare passengers and $15.00 for reduced-fare
passengers. The minimum monthly pass level valid on the route is the Zone 1A
pass, priced at $70 a month.
Effective July 1, 2012, the one-way fare on this route was increased 76% (from
$1.70 to $3.00) and 60-ride tickets that had effectively made the cost $1.53 per
trip were eliminated. The monthly pass price was increased by 18.6%, from
$59.00 to $70.00.
2.3.5
Annual Ridership
In the MBTA’s FY ended June 30, 2012, the Charlestown ferry route carried
353,981 riders. The net subsidy cost to the MBTA of this service was $687,543,
or $1.94 per passenger. In the first 10 months of FY 2013, following the 2012
fare increase, ridership on the route was 12.2% lower than in the corresponding
months in FY 2012. Excluding July and August, when ridership on this route
includes large numbers of tourists, the decrease from FY 2012 to FY 2013 was
23.3%.
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Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
The wharf used by commuter boats at the Charlestown Navy Yard is owned by
the Boston Redevelopment Authority. Floating gangways and docks used for
commuter boat service at Charlestown are owned by the MBTA.
There is no dedicated parking for the Charlestown Ferry at either the
Charlestown Navy Yard or Long Wharf. At Charlestown, a few riders use
private or on-street parking. Some trips on MBTA bus Route 93 (Sullivan
Square Station to downtown Boston) make a diversion through the Navy Yard,
but these trips are scheduled for travel to and from the Navy Yard as a final trip
end rather than for ferry connections. The most recent ferry passenger surveys,
conducted in the summer of 2008 found that 98% of passengers boarding the
ferry in Charlestown walked to the terminal, and none transferred from buses.
The Charlestown boats arrive at and depart from the inner end of the south
side of Long Wharf, and Aquarium Station on the MBTA rapid transit Blue Line
has an entrance about 300 feet from this location. However, only 9.4% of the
passengers alighting from the Charlestown ferry at Long Wharf reported
transferring to rapid transit in the 2008 survey. The survey sample size for
passengers boarding at Long Wharf was too small to provide statistically
precise conclusions, but indicated that about one third of these passengers
transferred from the Blue Line.
3
SEASONAL LOCAL TRANSPORTATION ROUTES
FROM BOSTON
Two seasonal local transportation ferry routes operate from Boston. Both are
operated by private companies under arrangements with the municipalities at
their outer ends.
3.1
Salem, Blaney Street Wharf, to Long Wharf, Boston
3.1.1
Route Location and Operator
This route runs from a wharf at Blaney Street in Salem to Long Wharf in Boston
with no intermediate stops. At Long Wharf, the berth used by the Salem ferry is
at the outer end of the south side of the wharf.
Service is operated by Boston Harbor Cruises under a one-year contract from
the City of Salem, with renewal options for up to five years. Salem owns the
boat used on the route and provides the terminal facilities at Blaney Street.
BHC does not receive a direct operating subsidy for the service. Under the
operating contract, BHC sets the schedule and fares on this route.
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2013 Schedule
The 2013 operating season for this route is from May 23 to October 31. There
are five round trips daily, but with some differences in weekday and weekend
departure times. On Monday through Thursday, the first Salem departure is at
7:00 AM and the last at 7:00 PM. The first Boston departure is at 9:30 AM and
the last at 8:00 PM. On Friday, the 7:00 PM trip from Salem is replaced by an
8:00 PM trip and the 8:00 PM trip from Boston is replaced by a 9:00 PM trip.
On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the first departure from Salem is at 8:00
AM and the first departure from Boston at 9:30 AM. The last Salem departure is
at 7:00 PM on Sundays and 8:00 PM on Saturdays and holidays. The last
Boston departure is at 8:00 PM on Sundays and 9:00 PM on Saturdays and
holidays. Scheduled intervals between trips range from 2 hours to 3.5 hours.
The normal travel time is 55 minutes in each direction. The shortest scheduled
span between departures of the boat from opposite ends of the route is 1 hour.
3.1.3
Vessels Used on Route
The usual boat on the Salem route is the Nathaniel Bowditch, a catamaran with
a top speed of about 30 knots. It is licensed for up to 149 passengers. This
boat, formerly the Friendship IV, was built in 1994. The City of Salem
purchased it in 2006 for $3.1 million, after two new engines had been installed.
Of the $3.1 million price, $2.3 million was paid by a grant from the state through
the then Executive Office of Transportation, and $750,000 was from a loan
taken out by the city, to be repaid by the boat operators through fare revenue.
The ferry terminal at Blaney Street was upgraded in 2006 with $450,000 in
funds from the state Seaport Advisory Council. In 2010 the city bought the
terminal, including the wharf and parking lot from Dominion Energy for $1.7
million.
In 2012, the first season that BHC operated this route, other catamarans from
the BHC fleet were substituted from time to time when the Nathaniel Bowditch
was out of service for maintenance or repairs. The port-side engine on the
Nathaniel Bowditch was rebuilt at the start of the 2012 season, at an
unreported cost. The starboard-side engine was rebuilt in the spring of 2013 at
a cost of $200,000. This was paid from a capital repairs fund maintained by the
city, which BHC is to pay into over the life of the operating contract. These
rebuildings were considered normal for the engines that had been installed in
2006.
3.1.4
Fares in 2013
Fares on this route are not regulated. The fares are $15.00 one way, $27.00
round trip, or 10 rides for $125.00. Fares for seniors and children ages 3 to 11
are $12.00 one way, $22.00 round trip, or 10 rides for $105.00. Special
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commuter fares, valid only on the 7:00 AM departure from Salem and the 5:30
PM departure from Boston, are $8.00 one way, $16.00 round trip, or 10 rides
for $72.00. For seniors and children, the commuter fares are $4.00 one way,
$8.00 round trip, or 10 rides for $36.00.
3.1.5
Annual Ridership
In 2012, BHC carried a total of about 45,000 passengers on this route during
the entire operating season from June through October. For 2013, BHC is
projecting ridership to increase to about 60,000 passengers.
3.1.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
Parking lots at the Salem ferry terminal are owned by the City of Salem, and
there is no charge for parking. The lots are unpaved, and have no delineation
of spaces. Their capacity is described in published information about the ferry
as “ample.” Aerial photos suggest that there is enough room for at least 75
parked cars, but some of the capacity may be needed for non-ferry parking.
The terminal is 1.1 miles from the Salem commuter rail station where several
MBTA bus routes terminate. The nearest service any of these routes provides
is about 0.4 miles from the ferry terminal.
The privately operated Salem Trolley runs a loop route for tourists through
downtown Salem and adjoining areas of the city from April 1 to November 1. It
serves 13 stops, including one at the ferry terminal; and the full loop takes 1
hour. Hop-on/hop-off tickets good for unlimited travel all day are $15.00 for
adults, $14.00 for people age 60 or older, $5.00 for children ages 6 through 14,
and free for children ages 5 and younger if accompanied by an adult.
There is no dedicated parking for the Salem ferry in Boston, but several
commercial parking lots and garages are within walking distance of Long
Wharf. Aquarium station on the MBTA rapid transit Blue Line has an entrance
at the inner end of Long Wharf.
3.2
WINTHROP TOWN LANDING TO ROWES WHARF, BOSTON
3.2.1
Route Location and Operators
This route runs from the town landing off Shirley Avenue in Winthrop to Rowes
Wharf in Boston. The route was operated by Boston Harbor Cruises from 2010,
when it started, to 2012 under contract with the Town of Winthrop. However,
because of a reduction in available funding, it is being run by a new operator in
2013, without a subsidy.
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Since June 10, 2013, the route has been run by Timothy Gover, doing business
as Boston Boat Charters. As of July 2013, the Winthrop boat uses a public
landing at the south end of the Rowes Wharf complex near Northern Avenue,
next to the U.S. Coast Guard First District headquarters.
3.2.2
2013 Schedule
Departures in 2013 were initially on weekdays only from Winthrop at 7:15 and
8:15 AM and 6:00 PM and from Rowes Wharf in Boston at 7:45 AM and 5:30
and 6:30 PM. Effective July 1, the 7:15 AM trip from Winthrop and the 7:45 AM
trips from Rowes Wharf were discontinued, but a 9:30 AM trip to Boston was
added. A schedule effective July 20 also includes a 4:45 PM trip from Winthrop
to Boston. The one-way trip time is about 30 minutes on trips with no
intermediate stops.
The schedule effective July 20 provides two round trips on Saturdays, leaving
Winthrop at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM and leaving Rowes Wharf at 11:30 AM and
3:30 PM. On Sundays there is one round trip, leaving Winthrop at 11:00 AM
and Rowes Wharf at 3:30 PM. Some of the trips added on July 20 are
combined with service between Winthrop and the Boston Harbor Islands,
discussed further in section 8.6.
3.2.3
Vessels Used on Route
The boat used on this service is the Joseph S. Kennedy, a former Navy Liberty
Launch with a removable canopy. It is licensed for 49 passengers, and has a
top speed of 14 knots.
3.2.4
Fares in 2013
Fares on this route are set by the town of Winthrop. As in 2012, the one-way
adult fare is $8.00. Ten-ride tickets are $60.00. Reduced fares are available for
seniors and children.
3.2.5
Annual Ridership
Boston Harbor Cruises reported that in 2012 the Winthrop ferry carried
approximately 15,000 riders during an operating season from May 26 to
October 14. That was the final year of a three-year trial. Because of the
substantial changes in operation of this route compared with prior years, it is
not possible to make reliable predictions of what total ridership will be in 2013.
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Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
At the Winthrop Town Landing there is free parking for 156 cars. A waiting
room and ticket office for ferry passengers at the landing was built by the town
in 2010 using funding from state and federal grants totaling nearly $5 million.
Bus Routes 712 and 713 from Point Shirley to the MBTA rapid transit Blue
Line, operated for the MBTA under contract by Paul Revere Transportation, run
past the town landing on Shirley Street. Buses going outbound toward Point
Shirley can stop at the landing entrance. However, on the inbound side there is
no sidewalk but only a retaining wall at the base of a steep hill, so the nearest
bus stop is about 700 feet from the boat landing.
Ordinarily these buses would go to Orient Heights Station, but for part of 2013
they are being diverted to Wood Island Station on weekdays and to Airport
Station on weekend days while Orient Heights Station is being reconstructed.
Routes 712 and 713 follow different alignments through downtown Winthrop.
Outbound service to the landing is via Route 712 and inbound service is via
Route 713.
The bus fare on Routes 712 and 713 is $1.50 for adults or 75 cents for
students, seniors, and passengers with disabilities. Monthly MBTA bus and
Link passes are accepted, if printed on CharlieTickets and all levels of monthly
commuter rail passes also are accepted.
There are no direct land-side transit connections or parking facilities at Rowes
Wharf. Further details about indirect transit connections at Rowes Wharf are
provided in the description of the Hingham commuter boat route in section
2.1.6 above.
4
SEASONAL SERVICE TO PROVINCETOWN
Seasonal boat service from Boston to Provincetown on Cape Cod is operated
by two competing private companies, with no direct public subsidies. A third
route is run from Plymouth to Provincetown by a third operator.
4.1
WORLD TRADE CENTER, BOSTON TO MACMILLAN
WHARF, PROVINCETOWN
4.1.1
Route Location and Operator
This route runs from the World Trade Center Pier in Boston to MacMillan Wharf
in Provincetown with no intermediate stops. It is operated by Bay State Cruise
Company, doing business as Bay State Cruises. This company is affiliated with
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SeaStreak, which operates seasonal routes to Martha’s Vineyard from New
Bedford, Massachusetts and from Highlands, New Jersey via New York City.
4.1.2
2013 Schedule
Published schedules show 2013 service beginning on May 17 and continuing
until October 15. Daily departures are at 8:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 5:30 PM from
Boston and at 10:30 AM, 3:00 PM, and 7:30 PM from Provincetown. The
scheduled time for these trips is 90 minutes each way. On Mondays only from
July 1 to August 26 there will be an additional trip leaving Provincetown at 6:30
AM and due in Boston at 8:15 AM. On October 15, only the morning trips from
each terminal will be run.
4.1.3
Vessels Used on This Route
The usual boat on this line is the Provincetown III, a high-speed catamaran with
a capacity of 149 passengers. This boat has a cruising speed of about 30
knots. A newly constructed sister ship, the Provincetown IV is expected to be
ready for service in the summer of 2013.
On two Saturdays, July 13 and 20, Bay State Cruises will run one round trip
between Boston and Provincetown with the monohull boat Provincetown II.
This boat has a top speed of 16 knots and a capacity of up to 1,100
passengers. These trips will take 3 hours in each direction. From 1980 to 1998
this boat provided the only ferry service between Boston and Provincetown.
After the introduction of high-speed ferry service on the route in 1999, service
by the Provincetown II was reduced to Friday through Sunday only by 2001, to
Saturday and Sunday only by 2006, and to Saturday only by 2011. It is used
mostly for chartered trips at present. The two public trips will leave Boston at
9:00 AM and Provincetown at 3:30 PM.
4.1.4
Fares in 2013
Fares on this route are not regulated. Adult fares are $53.00 one way or $85.00
round trip. For children ages 3 to 12, fares are $34.00 one way or $62.00 round
trip. Children younger than age 3 ride free. Ten-ride passes that can be shared
by two passengers per trip are $340.00. From these fares, Bay State Cruises is
required to pay an embarkation fee of 50 cents to the town of Provincetown for
each passenger boarding a boat there.
On the two Saturday trips by the Provincetown II, adult fares are $23.00 one
way or $46.00 round trip, but children age 12 and younger may ride free.
4.1.5
Annual Ridership
Bay State Cruises management declined to provide ridership figures for this
route to CTPS for this study.
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Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
The World Trade Center and surrounding piers in South Boston, used by Bay
State Cruise Company’s Provincetown boats, are owned by Massport. There is
no dedicated parking for the Provincetown boats there. Passengers arriving by
car are advised to park at nearby private lots with rates of $12.00 to $14.00 per
day, or at an underground garage at the Seaport Hotel, where the rate is
$29.00 for 12 to 24 hours.
World Trade Center Station on the MBTA Silver Line Waterfront routes from
South Station to Logan Airport and to the Boston Design Center has an
entrance about 300 feet from the pier used by the Provincetown boats. Silver
Line fares are the same as MBTA rapid transit system fares: $2.00 for an adult
with a CharlieCard, $2.50 for an adult with a CharlieTicket, and many pass
options.
MacMillan Wharf is owned by the Town of Provincetown. It is operated under
lease by the Provincetown Public Pier Corporation. The pier was upgraded in
2003-05 with funding from a $1.95 million low-interest loan from the Rural
Development Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
At Provincetown there is no dedicated parking for ferries, but there is a 321space municipal parking lot adjacent to MacMillan Wharf that is open 24 hours
a day. The rates there are $3.00 an hour, with a maximum of $30 per 24 hours.
The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) provides a year-round bus
route between Provincetown and Harwich, through Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham,
Orleans, and Brewster, which stops directly at MacMillan Wharf in
Provincetown. In Orleans and Harwich it connects with another CCRTA route to
Hyannis. From Memorial Day through the end of September CCRTA also
provides a shuttle route from MacMillan Wharf covering more local streets in
Provincetown and extending as far as North Truro. Fares on these CCRTA
routes are $2.00 for adults or children older than age 5, and $1.00 for people
age 60 or older or passengers with disabilities. Day passes are $6.00, and
unlimited-ride monthly passes are $60.00, with half fares for seniors and
passengers with disabilities.
In addition to the CCRTA service, limited-stop bus service between
Provincetown and Hyannis is operated by the Plymouth & Brockton Street
Railway Company (P&B). There are two rounds trips per day on this route,
except from June 22 to early September, when there are four round trips per
day. At the Hyannis Transportation Center, this route connects with P&B
service to Boston and with Peter Pan Bus Lines service to New York. At
Provincetown, the terminal of this route is at the Chamber of Commerce office
at the inner end of MacMillan Wharf.
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Fares on P&B service vary depending on distance traveled. The minimum fare
for travel within one town is $2.00. The fare from Provincetown to Hyannis is
$10.00 one way or $18.00 round trip. Ten-ride tickets provide substantial
discounts. For example, a 10-ride ticket from Provincetown to Hyannis is
$50.00, or effectively $5.00 per trip. The through fare from Provincetown to
South Station in Boston is $29.00.
4.2
LONG WHARF, BOSTON TO MACMILLAN WHARF,
PROVINCETOWN
4.2.1
Route Location and Operator
This route runs from Long Wharf in Boston to MacMillan Wharf in Provincetown
with no intermediate stops. It is operated by Boston Harbor Cruises.
4.2.2
2013 Schedule
Published schedules show 2013 service beginning on May 17 and continuing
until October 14. Several different schedules will be used during this span,
providing one, two, or three round trips per day. The one-round-trip schedule
has departures at 9:00 AM from Boston and at 4:00 PM from Provincetown.
The two-round-trip schedule will add departures at 2:00 PM from Boston and at
11:00 AM from Provincetown. The three-round-trip schedule will add
departures at 6:30 PM from Boston and 8:30 PM from Provincetown. The
scheduled time for all of these trips is 90 minutes each way.
The one-round-trip schedule will be in effect on Thursday through Sunday from
May 16 to May 19 and May 30 to June 2; daily from June 6 to June 9; on
Tuesday through Thursday from September 4 to September 20; and daily from
September 23 to October 14.
The two-round-trip schedule will be used on Monday, May 27, on each Monday
through Wednesday from June 10 to August 28 (except July 3 and August 21),
and on the two Mondays, September 9 and 16.
The three-round-trip schedule will be in effect on Thursday through Sunday
from May 23 to May 26 and from June 13 to September 1; on Wednesday, July
3, and Wednesday, August 21; on Labor Day (September 2); and on Saturday
and Sunday from September 7 to September 22. On the three Fridays
September 6, 13, and 20, a modified two-round-trip schedule will operate,
consisting of the first and last trips usually provided under the three-round-trip
schedule.
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Vessels Used on Route
The usual boat on this line is the Salacia, a high-speed catamaran with a
capacity of 600 passengers. This boat has a cruising speed of about 34 knots.
Other catamarans from the BHC fleet may be used on some trips.
4.2.4
Fares in 2013
Fares on this route are not regulated. Adult fares generally are the same as on
the Bay State Cruises route from the World Trade Center, but there are some
additional categories. Adult fares are $53.00 one way or $85.00 round trip. For
children ages 3 to 11, fares are $34.00 one way or $62.00 round trip. For
children younger than age 3, fares are $20.00 one way or $30.00 round trip.
Senior fares are $48.00 one way or $73.00 round trip. Ten-ride passes are
$340.00. From these fares, Boston Harbor Cruises is required to pay an
embarkation fee of 50 cents to the town of Provincetown for each passenger
boarding a boat there.
4.2.5
Annual Ridership
In 2012, BHC carried a total of about 70,000 passengers on this route during
the course of the operating season.
4.2.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
In Boston, BHC Provincetown boats arrive and depart on the south side of
Long Wharf. Land-side connections at Long Wharf are the same as discussed
above in section 2.2.6 for the Quincy/Hull commuter boat route. In
Provincetown, parking and transit connections at MacMillan Wharf are the
same as discussed above in section 4.1.6 for the Bay State Cruises route from
the World Trade Center in Boston to Provincetown.
4.3
PLYMOUTH TO PROVINCETOWN
4.3.1
Route Location and Operator
This route runs from the Mayflower II State Pier in Plymouth to Fisherman’s
Wharf in Provincetown. It is run under the name Plymouth to Provincetown
Express Ferry.
4.3.2
2013 Schedule
The published schedule shows daily service from June 22 to September 3. On
each day during this span, there is a single round trip leaving Plymouth at
10:00 AM and Provincetown at 4:30 PM. The scheduled trip time is 90 minutes
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each way. Between arrival and departure at Provincetown, the boat is used for
whale-watch cruises.
4.3.3
Vessels Used on Route
The usual boat on this route is a monohull with a capacity of 300 passengers
and a cruising speed of about 15 knots.
4.3.4
Fares in 2013
Fares on this route are not regulated. Adult fares are $30 one way or $43.00
round trip. For people age 62 or older, there is a round-trip fare of $38.00. The
fare for children younger than age 12 is $33.00 round trip. From these fares,
the boat operator is required to pay an embarkation fee of 50 cents to the town
of Provincetown for each passenger boarding a boat there.
4.3.5
Annual Ridership
Management of the company operating the Plymouth to Provincetown ferry told
CTPS that the company does not keep track of ridership on the route
separately from ridership on the company’s whale-watch and sightseeing
cruises.
4.3.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
In Provincetown, Fisherman’s Wharf is adjacent to MacMillan Wharf, and the
transit and parking options there are the same as discussed in section 4.1.6
above for the Bay State Cruises ferry from Boston to Provincetown.
Fisherman’s Wharf is privately owned and operated. The wharf and the
Provincetown Marina next to it have been offered unsuccessfully for sale for
many years. In 2005, they were listed at a sale price of $8 million. In 2008, a
developer cancelled a proposed acquisition for $6.5 million because of the slow
economy. As of June 2013, the property had been listed for several months at
$3.9 million.
At Plymouth there is no dedicated parking for the ferry, but there are numerous
municipal parking lots within walking distance. During the ferry operating
season, the parking fee in these lots is $1.00 an hour, with a limit of 10 hours.
The time from Plymouth departure to Plymouth return on the ferry is about 8
hours. The Mayflower II State Pier is part of the Pilgrim Memorial State Park.
The park is owned by the Commonwealth and managed by the Department of
Conservation and Recreation.
The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) provides
several local bus routes in Plymouth under the name Plymouth Area Link
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(PAL). The Liberty Link and the Freedom Link are clockwise and counterclockwise variations of a loop route connecting downtown Plymouth with the
Kingston and Plymouth commuter rail stations, among other points. The
Mayflower Link connects downtown Plymouth with the Manomet section of
Plymouth. All of these routes serve stops near the State Pier. One-way fares on
these routes are $1.00 for adults; 50 cents for students, seniors, and
passengers with disabilities; and free for children age 6 and younger. For
adults, 1-day passes are $3.00, 3-day passes or 10-ride passes are $9.00, and
31-day passes are $30.00.All passes are available at half price for students,
seniors, and passengers with disabilities.
5
SERVICE TO MARTHA’S VINEYARD
The island of Martha’s Vineyard is served by more ferry routes and operators
than any section of Massachusetts except Boston Harbor. Some of these
operate year-round and others operate only seasonally. At present, it is
possible to access the island via eight different scheduled routes from ports in
Massachusetts and three routes from other states.
The Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket Steamship Authority,
marketed as The Steamship Authority (SSA), is the only boat operator serving
Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket that transports both passengers and vehicles.
Under the Massachusetts legislation that established the Steamship Authority,
and subsequent amendments, most commercial passenger or freight
transportation by boat between the mainland of the Commonwealth and
Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket or between the two islands requires a license
or a permit in writing from the SSA. Passenger vessels certified by the Coast
Guard to carry 40 or fewer passengers are exempt from SSA regulation. Larger
vessels that had been exempt under rules in effect prior to 1973, or
replacements of equal capacity for such vessels, are also exempt from SSA
regulation. All vessels operated for carriage of vehicles or freight for hire or
resale must have SSA licenses or permits.
In general, licenses issued by the SSA to independent boat operators specify
the vessels to be used, the schedules, and the fares that are to be charged.
These details are proposed by the operators in their license applications but
must be approved by the SSA.
Currently, no independent operators are licensed by the SSA to transport
vehicles to or from the islands. The only freight transportation permitted is for
relatively small items that are transferred between boats and vehicles at the
mainland and island terminals. Private boat owners may transport cargo for
their personal use without SSA licenses. The SSA does not have jurisdiction
over interstate transportation except that interstate carriers that use SSA
terminals must pay fees to the SSA.
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By law, the SSA is required to set fares and vehicle transportation rates for its
own services at levels sufficient to cover anticipated operating costs and fixed
charges on bonds issued for capital expenses. The Department of Public
Utilities is empowered to disapprove such fares and rates after public hearings,
if petitioned to do so, but this power has seldom, if ever, been exercised.
5.1
Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs
5.1.1
Route Locations and Operator
The Steamship Authority operates year-round ferry service between Woods
Hole in Falmouth and Vineyard Haven in Tisbury with additional seasonal
service between Woods Hole and Oak Bluffs. All three terminals are owned by
the SSA.
5.1.2
2013 Schedule
The base schedule, in effect from January 1 through April 9, provided 12 daily
round trips. The first daily departure from Woods Hole was at 7:00 AM and the
last at 8:30 PM, with intervals between departures mostly 75 minutes. The first
daily departure from Vineyard Haven was at 6:00 AM and the last at 7:15 PM.
Additional trips left Woods Hole at 6:00 AM Monday through Friday and at 9:45
PM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Additional trips left Vineyard
Haven at 8:30 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and at 9:30
PM on Sundays through Thursdays. From April 10 to May 15 and from October
15 to December 31, the same schedule as above will be in effect, except that
the 6:00 AM trip from Woods Hole and the 9:30 PM trip from Vineyard Haven
will run daily. The scheduled trip time is 45 minutes in each direction.
From May 16 to June 20 and from September 4 to October 15, all 14 round
trips will run daily. However, the destination of trips leaving Woods Hole at 9:30
AM and at noon, 2:30, and 5:00 PM will be Oak Bluffs instead of Vineyard
Haven. Likewise, the return trips at 10:45 AM and at 1:15, 3:45, and 6:15 PM
will depart from Oak Bluffs instead of Vineyard Haven. From June 21 to
September 3, in addition to the diversions above, the 7:30 PM trip from Woods
Hole will be diverted to Oak Bluffs, with the return from there at 8:30 PM. The
scheduled trip time from Woods Hole to Oak Bluffs is 45 minutes in each
direction.
5.1.3
Vessels Used on These Routes
Peak summer service on this route requires two vessels, which usually are the
Island Home and the Martha’s Vineyard. The Island Home has a capacity of
1,200 passengers and 76 vehicles, and a top speed of 16 knots. The Martha’s
Vineyard has a capacity of 1,387 passengers and a top speed of about 14
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knots. The regular schedules of these boats are supplemented by operation of
the Katama and the Sankaty. The latter two are designed mainly for
transporting freight in trucks, but the Katama has capacity for 149 passengers
and the Sankaty can accommodate 300 riders. The Governor, also configured
mainly for truck transportation, serves as a backup for the Katama and the
Sankaty.
5.1.4
Fares in 2013
As discussed in greater detail above, the Steamship Authority sets its own
fares. One-way fares, subject to change, are $8.00 for adults, $4.25 for children
ages 5 to 12, and free for children younger than age 5. No round-trip discounts
are offered. From these fares, the SSA is required to pay embarkation fees of
50 cents to the towns of Falmouth, Tisbury, and Oak Bluffs for each passenger
boarding a boat in that town.
Steamship Authority vessels also transport vehicles between Woods Hole and
both Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs. Rates for these vary by season and by
vehicle size.
5.1.5
Annual Ridership
In calendar year 2012, the Steamship Authority carried 2,244,441 passengers
between Woods Hole and Martha’s Vineyard. This was an average of 187,036
passengers per month, but there was substantial seasonal variation. As in most
recent past seasons, ridership was highest in August (364,410 in 2012) and
lowest in February (92,186 in 2012). The SSA also carried 385,553 cars and
112,958 trucks between Woods Hole and Martha’s Vineyard in 2012.
5.1.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
There is a limited amount of parking at the Woods Hole terminal, and the
Steamship Authority operates four satellite parking lots with free shuttle bus
service to the terminal. Satellite facilities are the Palmer Avenue lot at 276
Palmer Avenue in Falmouth, the Gifford Street and Sun lots at 677 and 737
Gifford Street in Falmouth, and the Cataumet lot at 1251 Route 28A in the
Cataumet section of Bourne. A parking lot at Falmouth High School is also
used at peak times. The Steamship Authority owns the Woods Hole ferry
terminal and the parking lot adjoining it. The remote Palmer Avenue and 677
Gifford Street lots in Falmouth are also owned by the SSA. The Sun Lot in
Falmouth and the Cataumet lot are on private property leased by the SSA.
Most of the lots under control of the Steamship Authority are unpaved and
spaces are not delineated. The SSA monitors lot occupancy closely and posts
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notices on its website and on signs along roads leading to the terminal directing
drivers to which lots they should go at a given time.
Parking rates at the SSA lots vary by season. The rate at the satellite lots is
$10.00 a day from May 15 through October 14, and $8.00 a day the rest of the
year. At the terminal, the rate is $12.00 a day from May 15 through September
14, $10.00 a day from September 15 through October 14, and $8.00 a day the
rest of the year.
Peter Pan Bus Lines operates bus service between Boston and the Steamship
Authority terminal at Woods Hole. Some trips connect in Bourne with Peter Pan
service to and from New York City via New Bedford and Fall River,
Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. Fares vary by distance traveled,
by day, and by trip. Currently, the minimum fare for an adult between South
Station in Boston and Woods Hole is $27.00 one way or $52.00 round trip.
The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority provides year-round bus service
Monday through Saturday on a route called the SeaLine from Hyannis to
Falmouth Center and the Woods Hole Steamship Authority terminal. From
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, this route is supplemented by the
CCRTA’s Whoosh Trolley, which runs daily between Falmouth Mall and Woods
Hole. Adult fares on either route are $2.00, with free transfers between the two
routes. Other fare options are as described above for CCRTA service to
Provincetown.
On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Memorial Day weekend to Labor
Day, a demonstration passenger train service called the CapeFlyer is running
between Boston, Buzzards Bay, and Hyannis under sponsorship of the
CCRTA. There is one round trip on Friday evenings, and one round trip leaving
Boston on Saturday and Sunday mornings and returning in the evenings. The
Steamship Authority is providing free bus service between the trains at
Buzzards Bay and the Woods Hole terminal. The train fare between Boston
and Buzzards Bay is $18.00 one way or $33.00 round trip.
The SSA owns and operates the terminals used by SSA ferries at Oak Bluffs
and Vineyard Haven. There are no parking facilities for ferry users at either
terminal. The Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority (VTA) provides a
network of bus routes connecting both Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven with
villages and towns throughout the island. A zone fare system is used, with zone
limits at town borders. Currently, the one-way adult fare is $1.00 for each town
included in the trip. Passengers can also purchase 1-day, 3-day, 7-day, 31-day,
or annual passes, priced at $7.00, $15.00, $25.00, $40,00, and $100.00,
respectively, Passengers older than age 65 are eligible for 50% discounts on all
fares and passes. Annual student passes are $50.00. Children age 6 and
younger ride free when accompanied by an adult.
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5.2
Falmouth Inner Harbor to Oak Bluffs (Island Commuter)
5.2.1
Route Location and Operator
The Island Commuter Corporation operates seasonal service from a terminal at
Falmouth Heights Road south of Robbins Road on Falmouth Inner Harbor, and
the Oak Bluffs town landing on Martha’s Vineyard. This service is exempt from
SSA regulation because the boat that provides it was under construction prior
to the May 30, 1973 cut-off date specified by state law.
5.2.2
2013 Schedule
Published schedules for 2013 show an operating season from May 24 to
October 14. From May 25 to June 13 and from September 9 to October 9, on
Monday through Thursday there are two round trips per day, with departures
from Falmouth at 9:00 and 10:30 AM and returns from Oak Bluffs at 2:15 and
3:45 PM. On Fridays there are additional Falmouth departures at 3:00, 6:00,
and 8:00 PM and additional Oak Bluffs departures at 3:45, 6:45, and 8:45 PM.
On Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day, and Columbus Day, there are five
round trips with Falmouth departures at 9:00 and 10:30 AM, noon, and 3:00
and 4:30 PM. Departures from Oak Bluffs will be at 9:35 and 11:05 AM and at
2:15, 3:45, and 5:15 PM. The scheduled trip time in each direction is about 35
minutes
Maximum service is in effect between June 15 and September 9. During that
period, there are seven daily round trips, with departures from Falmouth every
90 minutes between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM, and from Oak Bluffs at 35 to 40
minutes after each of the first three Falmouth trips and 45 minutes after each of
the other trips. On Fridays there is an eighth round trip leaving Falmouth at
8:00 PM, with return departure at 8:45 PM. On Sundays and Labor Day there is
an eighth round trip leaving Falmouth at 7:30 PM, with return departure at 8:15
PM.
5.2.3
Vessel Used on This Route
All service on this route is provided by Island Queen, a monohull with a capacity
of 600 passengers and a cruising speed of 14 knots.
5.2.4
Fares in 2013
Currently, advertised fares are $12.00 one way or $20.00 round trip for adults,
with half fares for children ages 5 to 12. Children age 4 and younger ride free.
From these fares, Island Commuter is required to pay embarkation fees of 50
cents to the towns of Falmouth and Oak Bluffs for each passenger boarding a
boat in that town. Reduced-rate multiple-ride commuter fares are available
upon request, and are exempt from embarkation fees.
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5.2.5
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July 25, 2013
Annual Ridership
At this writing, CTPS had not received ridership information requested from
Island Commuter.
5.2.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
The Falmouth terminal is owned by the Island Commuter Corporation. There is
a passenger drop-off area at the terminal and five parking spaces for vehicles
with handicap permits, but otherwise parking is off site. The terminal provides a
ticket office and waiting room for passengers. Access from the waiting room to
the dock is through a gate where tickets are collected by an attendant. The
dock has a wooden surface in good condition.
The main parking lot for Island Commuter passengers is on Falmouth Heights
Road, about 700 feet north of the landing. It is paved and has about 300
marked spaces. An overflow lot owned by Island Commuter on Scranton
Avenue at Robbins Road is about 1,200 feet from the landing. It also is paved,
and has about 150 marked spaces. Currently, the rate for day or overnight
parking at either lot is $15.00 per calendar day. Thirty-day discount parking
plans can be arranged upon request.
At Oak Bluffs, this service uses an assigned berth at the town-owned landing
on the point of land near the intersection of Circuit Avenue Extension and
Seaview Avenue rather than the Steamship Authority terminal. The landing has
a concrete dock with movable gangways and is in excellent condition. There
are several benches, but no ticket office, shelter or other passenger amenities
at this location.
Fixed-route buses provided by the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority or
private carriers do not serve the Falmouth Heights terminal directly. However,
the CCRTA SeaLine between Hyannis and Woods Hole serves a stop about
0.25 miles away on state Route 28.
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day 2013, the CCRTA is providing
a bus connection between the CapeFlyer demonstration trains at Buzzards Bay
and the Falmouth Heights boat terminal. The bus fare is $2.00 each way.
CapeFlyer service and transportation options on Martha’s Vineyard are
discussed in more detail in section 5.1.6 above under Steamship Authority
service to Martha’s Vineyard.
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5.3
Falmouth Harbor to Oak Bluffs (Patriot Party Boats)
5.3.1
Route Location and Operator
July 25, 2013
Patriot Party Boats operates a year-round water shuttle service from a terminal
at the east end of Clinton Avenue off Scranton Avenue on Falmouth Inner
Harbor and the Oak Bluffs town landing on Martha’s Vineyard. Many of the trips
on this route are operated primarily for transportation of freight such as
newspapers, packages, building materials, and auto parts. All of the freight is
transferred to or from highway vehicles at the Falmouth and Oak Bluffs
terminals. Passenger service on this route is exempt from SSA regulation
because the boat used is licensed for fewer than 100 passengers.
5.3.2
2013 Schedule
The year-round service on this route provides eight scheduled round trips on
Monday through Friday, three on Saturday, and one on Sunday. Crossing times
are about 30 minutes. The first trip leaves Falmouth at 4:00 AM Monday
through Saturday. The last departure from Oak Bluffs is at 5:00 PM on
weekdays and 2:00 PM on Saturdays. The Sunday trip leaves Falmouth at 2:30
AM and Oak Bluffs at 3:00 AM. Additional trips are run as needed during
summer months.
5.3.3
Vessel Used on This Route
The usual boat on this route is the Quickwater, a former oil-rig crew boat, with a
cruising speed of 15 knots and a capacity of up to 40 passengers. While this
capacity is within the limit that does not require a license from the Steamship
Authority for passenger service, freight transportation requires a permit.
5.3.4
Fares in 2013
Currently, the one-way fare on this route is $12.00, with no discounts for round
trips or by age. Tickets are sold only on board the boat, for cash only. Ten-trip
tickets are available for $90.00.
The published rate for freight is $8.00 per box, or $20 for larger items.
5.3.5
Annual Ridership
At this writing, CTPS has not obtained ridership information for this route. In
2009, the most recent year for which published figures are available, Patriot
Party boats reported carrying an annual total of 40,000 riders.
Ferry Compact Members
5.3.6
28
July 25, 2013
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
Before Memorial Day weekend and after Columbus Day each year, Patriot
Party Boats allows ferry passengers to park in a small lot adjoining the Clinton
Avenue terminal, where the parking fee is $15.00 per calendar day. Between
Memorial Day weekend and Columbus Day, parking is at a remote lot at 343
Dillingham Avenue, 1.1 miles from the boat landing. Currently, the parking fee
there is $10.00 per calendar day. Van service between this lot and the boat is
available on request. The Clinton Avenue landing and the parking lots on
Clinton Avenue and Dillingham Avenue are owned by companies affiliated with
Patriot Party Boats. There is no ticket office or waiting room at the Falmouth
terminal, but passengers can sit at picnic tables outside a take-out restaurant
on the dock. The dock has a wooden surface and is in good condition.
At Oak Bluffs, the town landing has a concrete dock in excellent condition.
There are several benches, but no ticket office, shelter or other passenger
amenities there. The berth assigned to Patriot Party Boats has no gangway.
Portable steps kept on the boat are used to assist passengers in boarding and
alighting.
There is no direct transit service to the Clinton Avenue boat terminal. The
nearest bus stop is 0.7 miles away on Main Street, on the CCRTA’s SeaLine
route between Hyannis and Woods Hole.
Transportation options on Martha’s Vineyard are discussed in more detail in
section 5.1.6 above, under Steamship Authority service to Martha’s Vineyard.
5.4
New Bedford to Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs
5.4.1
Route Location and Operator
Unsubsidized seasonal service from the State Pier in New Bedford to the
Steamship Authority terminals in Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs is operated by
SeaStreak, LLC. Fares, schedules, and vessels used on the route are subject
to approval of the Steamship Authority. SeaStreak is affiliated with Bay State
Cruises which operates seasonal ferry service between Boston and
Provincetown, as discussed above.
5.4.2
2013 Schedule
Currently, service runs from May 4 to October 15, with several different levels
of service provided. The scheduled trip time from New Bedford to either port is
1 hour in each direction.
From May 4 to May 23, there were two daily round trips between New Bedford
and Vineyard Haven. On weekdays, these were scheduled to leave New
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Bedford at 6:30 AM and 3:45 PM and Vineyard Haven at 8:00 AM and 5:15
PM. On Saturdays and Sundays, the earlier of the two round trips was
scheduled to leave New Bedford at 9:30 AM and Vineyard Haven at 10:50 AM.
Starting May 24, in addition to the service described above, a Friday-only round
trip was scheduled, leaving New Bedford at 9:30 PM and Vineyard Haven at
10:35 PM. Oak Bluffs service also began on that date, with departures from
New Bedford at 9:30 AM and at 12:30 and 6:30 PM and from Oak Bluffs at
10:50 AM and at 2:00 and 8:00 PM. On weekends starting May 25, the
schedule was the same as the Monday through Thursday schedule with
omission of the 6:30 AM trip from New Bedford and the 8:00 AM trip from
Vineyard Haven.
Starting July 1, weekday service expanded further on Thursdays and Fridays,
with the addition of a 10:35 AM trip from New Bedford to Vineyard Haven with
an 11:45 AM return departure, and a 4:30 PM trip to Oak Bluffs with a 5:50 PM
return departure. These trips were also added on Saturdays and Sundays,
along with an added 8:00 AM trip from New Bedford to Oak Bluffs with a return
departure at 9:15 AM.
The maximum frequencies remain in effect from July 1 through September 3.
From September 4 through the end of the operating season on October 14,
weekday and weekend schedules are the same as those in effect from May 24
through June 30.
5.4.3
Vessels Used on This Route
Most of the schedules on this route can be operated with one boat, usually the
Seastreak Whaling City Express. Saturday and Sunday service from July 1
through Labor Day weekend requires a second boat, usually the Seastreak
Martha’s Vineyard Express. Both boats are high-speed catamarans, with
capacities of 149 passengers each and top speeds of 29 knots. On weekdays,
the Seastreak Martha’s Vineyard Express is used on commuter routes out of
New York City.
5.4.4
Fares in 2013
Currently, between New Bedford and either Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven,
adult fares are $38.00 one way or $68.00 round trip. As many as two children
age 12 or younger per paying adult are allowed to travel free except on certain
weekend trips in the summer. Children ages 2 through 12 (if there are more
than two per adult) are charged $20 one way or $40 round trip. For seniors or
residents of Martha’s Vineyard, fares are $29.00 one way or $58.00 round trip.
From these fares, SeaStreak is required to pay embarkation fees of 50 cents to
the City of New Bedford and the towns of Tisbury and Oak Bluffs for each
passenger boarding a boat in that municipality.
Ferry Compact Members
5.4.5
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July 25, 2013
Annual Ridership
At this writing, CTPS has not received ridership information requested for this
route.
5.4.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
Parking directly at the State Pier in New Bedford for SeaStreak passengers is
allowed before May 25 and after September 30. Between these dates, parking
is at the city-owned Whale’s Tooth parking lot on Acushnet Avenue, 0.6 miles
from the boat terminal. Free shuttle service is provided between the parking lot
and the boat. The parking fee is $12.00 per calendar day.
The State Pier at New Bedford is owned by the Commonwealth and is under
the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The
north side of the pier, including the passenger ferry terminal, is leased from
DCR by the Port of New Bedford Harbor Development Commission (HDC),
which manages the facilities there as well as at the Whale’s Tooth parking lot.
Currently, a van and bus service chartered by SeaStreak provides connections
from South Station in Boston to the New Bedford pier for two of the Martha’s
Vineyard boat trips in each direction each day, with connections from a third trip
from the Vineyard Monday through Friday and to a third trip on Friday evening
only. The fares for the combined van/bus and ferry service are the same as
those for the ferry alone.
Connections between Boston and other SeaStreak trips at New Bedford may
be made via Dattco buses, which run between South Station and the
Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SERTA) terminal at Elm and Pleasant
Streets in New Bedford. The walking distance from there to the State Pier is
about 0.6 miles. The fare from Boston to New Bedford on this route is $9.00
one way or $16.00 round trip for adults. Children’s fares are $7.00 one way or
$12.00 round trip.
SERTA provides a network of bus routes between the Elm Street terminal and
points throughout New Bedford as well as the neighboring towns of Dartmouth,
Fairhaven, and Acushnet. However, these do not serve the State Pier directly.
Transportation connections on Martha’s Vineyard are discussed in section
5.1.6 above, under Steamship Authority service from Woods Hole.
Ferry Compact Members
5.5
Hyannis to Oak Bluffs
5.5.1
Route Location and Operator
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July 25, 2013
Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc., doing business as Hy-Line Cruises, runs two
seasonal services, referred to as Traditional and High Speed, between Hyannis
and Oak Bluffs. At Hyannis, these routes use the Hy-Line terminal on Ocean
Street on Hyannis Inner Harbor. At Oak Bluffs, these routes use a private dock
off Circuit Avenue Extension on Oak Bluffs Harbor. Fares, schedules, and
vessels used on the route are subject to approval of the Steamship Authority.
5.5.2
2013 Schedule
The Traditional Ferry runs from May 25 to October 20, with one daily round trip.
From May 25 to June 28 and from September 2 to October 20, departures will
be at 9:35 AM from Hyannis and at 3:45 PM from Oak Bluffs. From June 29 to
September 1, departure times will change to 9:25 AM from Hyannis and 5:15
PM from Oak Bluffs. Scheduled trip times for this service are 1 hour and 40
minutes in each direction.
The High-Speed Ferry is scheduled to run from May 4 to October 27, with
several schedule changes during that period. From May 4 to May 24 and again
from October 14 to October 27, there will be two round trips per day.
Departures will be at 9:25 AM and 3:20 PM from Hyannis and at 10:35 AM and
4:25 PM from Oak Bluffs. From May 25 to June 7 and from September 8 to
October 13, there will be three round trips, leaving Hyannis at 9:25 and 11:50
AM and 5:25 PM, and leaving Oak Bluffs at 10:35 AM and 4:15 and 6:35 PM.
From June 8 to June 28 and from September 2 to September 7, there will be a
fourth round trip, leaving Hyannis at 7:45 PM and Oak Bluffs at 8:50 PM. The
maximum level of service will be in effect from June 29 through September 1.
In that time, there will be five round trips per day. Departures will be from
Hyannis at 8:15 and 10:30 AM and 12:50, 5:50, and 8:05 PM. Oak Bluffs
departures will be at 9:20 and 11:40 AM and 4:45, 7:00, and 9:10 PM. Under all
of these schedules, travel times on all trips are 55 minutes in each direction.
5.5.3
Vessels Used on This Route
The Traditional Ferry service is provided by a monohull boat, usually the Brant
Point, which has a capacity of 602 passengers and a top speed of 14 knots.
The High-Speed Ferry service is provided by a catamaran, usually the Lady
Martha (formerly the Grey Lady II), which has a top speed of 32 knots, a
cruising speed of about 27 knots, and a capacity of 149 passengers.
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July 25, 2013
Fares in 2013
Adult fares on the Traditional Ferry are $22.50 one way or $45.00 round trip. As
many as 3 children age 12 or younger per adult ride free. Adult fares on the
High-Speed Ferry are $36.00 one way or $72.00 round trip. Fares for children
ages 5 through 12 are $24.00 one way or $48.00 round trip. From these fares,
Hy-Line is required to pay embarkation fees of 50 cents to the towns of
Barnstable and Oak Bluffs for each passenger boarding a boat in that town.
5.5.5
Annual Ridership
At this writing, CTPS has not received ridership information requested for this
route. In 2009, the most recent year for which published figures are available.
Hy-Line reported carrying a total of 90,735, riders on the combined Traditional
and High-Speed ferries between Hyannis and Oak Bluffs during their operating
seasons.
5.5.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
Hyannis Harbor Tours owns and operates several parking lots along Ocean
Street in Hyannis, within walking distance of the boat landing. Parking rates
vary by season. Currently, the peak rate of $20.00 a day is in effect from June
28 through September 2. The rate from May 17 to June 27 and from
September 3 to 22 is $17.00 a day. The rate from April 12 to May 16 and from
September 23 to December 9 is $10.00 a day. The rate before April 12 and
after December 9 is $5.00 a day.
The Hy-Line terminal in Hyannis has capacity for simultaneous berthing of
three boats at two floating docks. At the terminal, there is a large ticket office
with a waiting room, gift shop, and restaurant.
Bus service to Hyannis from Boston operated by the Plymouth & Brockton
Street Railway Company and between Hyannis and New York and intermediate
points operated by Peter Pan Bus Lines does not serve any of the Hyannis
boat terminals directly. The bus terminal, also used by the CapeFlyer trains, is
on Main Street about 0.5 miles from the Hy-Line terminal. Hy-Line provides a
free shuttle between the CapeFlyer trains and the Hy-Line landing. Cape Cod
Regional Transit Authority bus routes from Hyannis to Woods Hole, Orleans,
and the Barnstable Courthouse serve the Hyannis bus terminal but not the ferry
landings.
There is no parking at the terminal in Oak Bluffs. Bus transportation
connections there are discussed above in section 5.1.6 under Steamship
Authority service between Woods Hole and Martha’s Vineyard.
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July 25, 2013
At Oak Bluffs, Hy-Line has ticket offices but no passenger waiting room. Boats
load at the outer end of a long wooden dock, in good condition. Gangways are
kept on the boats rather than on the dock.
5.6
Nantucket to Oak Bluffs
5.6.1
Route Location and Operator
Hy-Line Cruises operates a seasonal route referred to as Inter-Island between
Nantucket and Oak Bluffs. At Oak Bluffs, this service uses the same dock off
Circuit Avenue Extension that is used by Hy-Line service from Hyannis,
discussed in section 5.5.6 above. On Nantucket, this service uses Straight
Wharf, in the main town center. Fares, schedules, and vessels used on the
route are subject to approval of the Steamship Authority.
5.6.2
2013 Schedule
The Inter-Island service runs from June 8 through September 30. There will be
one round trip per day, but departure times will change several times during
this period. From June 8 to June 28 and again from September 2 to September
9, there are daily departures from Oak Bluffs at 1:25 PM and from Nantucket at
2:50 PM. From September 13 to 30 the same departure times are scheduled,
but service will run only from Fridays through Mondays. From June 29 to
September 1, departures will be at 2:00 PM from Oak Bluffs and at 3:10 PM
from Nantucket. The scheduled trip time on this route is 1 hour and 10 minutes
each way.
5.6.3
Vessel Used on This Route
The Inter-Island service is provided by the 149-passenger catamaran Lady
Martha, which also provides the high-speed service between Hyannis and Oak
Bluffs described in section 5.3.3 above.
5.6.4
Fares in 2013
One-way fares are $36.00 for adults and $24.00 for children ages 5 through 12.
There are no round-trip discounts. From these fares, Hy-Line is required to pay
embarkation fees of 50 cents to the towns of Nantucket and Oak Bluffs for each
passenger boarding a boat in that town.
5.6.5
Annual Ridership
At this writing, CTPS has not received ridership information for this route. In
2009, the most recent year for which published ridership figures are available,
reported ridership for this route was reported as 6,077 for the operating season.
Ferry Compact Members
5.6.6
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July 25, 2013
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
There is no parking for ferry passengers at either Nantucket or Oak Bluffs. On
Nantucket, Hy-Line ferries use Straight Wharf at the east end of Main Street in
downtown Nantucket. The section of Straight Wharf used by Hy-Line ferries is
owned by NIR Retail LLC, a subsidiary of New England Development. NIR
Retail is the largest private landowner in downtown Nantucket. The wooden
surface on Straight Wharf was replaced in 2013.
The Nantucket Regional Transit Authority provides a network of fixed bus
routes, named The Wave, from downtown to points throughout the island.
These do not serve the boat landings directly, but do have stops within
reasonable walking distance. Bus fares for adults are $1.00 on shorter routes
and $2.00 on longer routes. Seniors and passengers with disabilities are
eligible for half fares. Children age 6 and younger ride free when accompanied
by an adult.
At Oak Bluffs, Hy-Line has ticket offices but no passenger waiting room. Boats
load at the outer end of a long wooden dock, which is in good condition.
Gangways are kept on the boats rather than on the dock.
The Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority provides fixed-route bus
service throughout the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Further details about that
service are provided in section 5.1.6, under Steamship Authority service from
Woods Hole to the Vineyard.
5.7
Falmouth to Edgartown
5.7.1
Route Location and Operator
Falmouth Water Transport, LLC, doing business as Falmouth-Edgartown Ferry,
operates seasonal service from Falmouth Harbor to Edgartown. The Falmouth
terminal is at the Falmouth Marine boatyard on Scranton Avenue, south of
Lowry Road. At Edgartown, this route terminates at Memorial Wharf on Dock
Street in Edgartown Harbor. Fares, schedules, and vessels used on the route
are subject to approval of the Steamship Authority.
5.7.2
2013 Schedule
The operating season for this route is from May 24 to September 2. From May
24 through June 23, service was offered on Fridays through Sundays and
Memorial Day only. On each of these days there were departures from
Falmouth at 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM, with return departures from Edgartown at
12:45 and 5:15 PM. In addition, on Fridays there were departures at 6:30 PM
from Falmouth and at 7:45 PM from Edgartown. On Saturdays and Sundays
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July 25, 2013
and Memorial Day there also were departures at 9:00 AM from Falmouth and at
10:15 AM from Edgartown.
From June 24 through September 2 on Monday through Saturday, there are
four round trips each day, leaving Falmouth at 8:30 and 11:00 AM and 1:30 and
4:00 PM. Edgartown departures are at 9:45 AM and at 12:15, 2:45, and 5:15
PM. An additional round trip leaves Falmouth at 7:00 PM on Fridays only, with
a return trip leaving Edgartown at 8:15 PM. On Sundays, departures are at
10:00 AM and 12:30, 3:00, and 6:00 PM from Falmouth and 11:15 AM and
1:45, 4:15, and 7:15 PM from Edgartown. The scheduled trip time in each
direction is 1 hour.
5.7.3
Vessels Used on This Route
The usual vessel on this route is the M.V. Pied Piper, which has a capacity of
145 passengers and a top speed of about 16 knots. The 127-passenger
Sandpiper may be used on some trips.
5.7.4
Fares in 2013
One-way fares (subject to change without notice) are $25.00 for adults, $15.00
for children ages 6 to 12 and free for children ages 5 and younger. No roundtrip discounts are advertised, but 10-ride commuter books are available for
$200.00 for adults or $120.00 for children. From these fares, Falmouth Water
Transport is required to pay embarkation fees of 50 cents to the towns of
Falmouth and Edgartown for each passenger boarding a boat in that town,
except for those using commuter books.
5.7.5
Annual Ridership
At this writing, CTPS has not obtained ridership information for this route. In
2009, the most recent year for which published figures are available, ridership
was reported to be about 14,500 during the operating season.
5.7.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
The Falmouth terminal has a parking lot with a stone-dust surface with no
space delineations, and a capacity of about 30 cars. Parking rates are $20.00
for passengers making same-day round trips, or $25.00 per calendar day for
vehicles parked overnight. There is a small ticket office, but no interior waiting
area for passengers. There are soft-drink vending machines and portable
toilets outside the ticket office. The dock has a wooden surface in fair condition.
The terminal and parking lot are owned by Falmouth Holdings, Corporation,
and operated by Falmouth Marine.
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July 25, 2013
There is no direct bus service at the terminal. The nearest stop on the CCRTA
bus route from Hyannis to Woods Hole is about 0.5 miles away, on Main Street.
The Peter Pan Bus Lines route from Woods Hole to Boston serves a stop on
Depot Street, about 1.5 miles from the Falmouth-Edgartown ferry terminal.
There is no parking for the ferry at Edgartown. Memorial Wharf is owned by the
town; and the ferry company currently pays the town $12,000 per year for use
of the wharf.
The Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority provides a bus route
between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, which stops several blocks from the ferry
terminal in Edgartown. Additional details about service provided by this transit
authority appear in section 5.1.6, under Steamship Authority service to
Martha’s Vineyard.
5.8
Edgartown to Chappaquiddick
5.8.1
Route Location and Operator
Chappaquiddick Ferry, Inc., doing business as Chappy Ferry, provides yearround service between Edgartown on the main island of Martha’s Vineyard and
Chappaquiddick Island across Edgartown Harbor. The Edgartown terminal is at
the east end of Dock Street. The Chappaquiddick terminal is at the northwest
end of Chappaquiddick Road. The total length of the route is 527 feet.
5.8.2
2013 Schedule
During hours of operation, departures are continuous, with boats leaving both
docks simultaneously. In the off-season before May 24 and after October 13,
hours of operation are 6:45 AM to 7:30 PM, 9:00 to 10:00 PM, and 11:00 to
11:15 PM. From May 24 through October 13, service runs from 6:45 AM to
midnight with no breaks.
5.8.3
Vessels Used on This Route
Service on this route is provided by two open-deck double-ended ferries, the
On-Time II and the On Time III. Each boat can carry three average size autos
and about 20 walk-on passengers.
5.8.4
Fares in 2013
Fares on this route are not regulated; and only round-trip fares are sold.
Round-trip fares are $4.00 per individual or $12.00 for a car and driver. For
frequent riders, 50-round-trip books are available for $135.00. For a car and
driver, 25-round-trip books are available for $200. Various other fare options
are available for other vehicle types.
Ferry Compact Members
5.8.5
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July 25, 2013
Annual Ridership
At this writing, CTPS has not received ridership information requested for this
route.
5.8.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
There is a parking lot with spaces for about 20 vehicles on the Chappaquiddick
end of the ferry. There is no dedicated ferry parking on the downtown
Edgartown side. The ferry terminals are owned by the town. The Martha’s
Vineyard Regional Transit Authority provides a bus route between Oak Bluffs
and Edgartown that stops several blocks from the ferry terminal in Edgartown.
5.9
Quonset Point, Rhode Island to Martha’s Vineyard
5.9.1
Route Location and Operator
Rhode Island Fast Ferry, Inc., doing business as Vineyard Fast Ferry, operates
seasonal service between Quonset Point in North Kingstown, Rhode Island,
and Oak Bluffs. The Quonset Point terminal is at the east end of Roger
Williams Way, near the Quonset Air Museum.
At Oak Bluffs, this service uses an assigned berth at the town landing on the
point of land north of the intersection of Circuit Avenue Extension and Seaview
Avenue.
Rhode Island Fast Ferry is affiliated with Block Island Express, which operates
seasonal high-speed ferry service between New London, Connecticut and
Block Island, Rhode Island.
5.9.2
2013 Schedule
Service runs from May 23 through October 14. Eight different schedule
combinations, identified by color codes, are used during this period. Of these,
four allow for two round trips per day, three allow for three round trips per day,
and one allows for four round trips per day. Most of the schedules show trip
times of 1 hour and 35 minutes from Quonset Point to Oak Bluffs, with5
minutes longer for the return trips.
A four-round-trip (green) schedule will be used on Fridays from July 5 to August
30, and on July 2 and 3. It allows for departures from Quonset Point at 8:05
AM, noon, 4:30 PM, and 8:30 PM and from Oak Bluffs at 10:00 AM and 2:00,
6:30, and 10:15 PM.
A three-round-trip (yellow) schedule is used on Sunday June 23, on Sundays,
Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from June 29 to August 29, and on
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July 25, 2013
September 1. This schedule allows for departures from Quonset Point at 8:30
AM and 1:00 and 5:00 PM and from Oak Bluffs at 10:30 AM and 3:15 and 7:30
PM. Another three-round-trip (purple) schedule differs from the yellow schedule
in that the departure times of the first round trip are 30 minutes later in the
purple schedule. That schedule is used on the first three Fridays in September
only. A special three-round-trip (red) schedule with other slight changes from
the yellow schedule is used on Memorial Day and Labor Day. Two-round-trip
(orange, blue, and pink) schedules with various combinations of departure
times are used on all other days during the operating season, except that there
is no service on May 29 and 30, on June 3 through 6, or on Tuesdays and
Wednesdays from September 24 to the end of the season.
5.9.3
Vessel Used on This Route
Service on this route is provided by the high-speed catamaran Ava Pearl. This
boat has a capacity of 149 passengers and a top speed of 33 knots.
5.9.4
Fares in 2013
Fares on this route are not regulated, and four different fare levels are offered.
For passengers making advance reservations, adult fares are $51.00 one way
or $79.00 round trip; for children ages 4 through 12, fares are $39.00 one way
or $56.00 round trip; for children younger than age 4, fares are $13.00 one way
or $22.00 round trip; and for passengers age 60 or older, fares are $45.00 one
way or $74.00 round trip. For passengers without reservations, $5.00 will be
added to all the fares listed above. In addition to these fares, Rhode Island Fast
Ferry collects an embarkation fee of 50 cents from each passenger boarding in
Oak Bluffs. This fee goes to the town.
5.9.5
Annual Ridership
At this writing, CTPS has not obtained ridership information for this route.
5.9.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
At Quonset Point, there is a ticket office and a small waiting room with
restrooms in a building that was constructed in 2002. There is parking for the
ferry in several unpaved lots adjoining the landing. Parking spaces are not
delineated, but the combined total area of the lots is advertised as 5 acres. The
parking fee is $10.00 per calendar day. The terminal facilities are owned by the
Rhode Island Department of Transportation.
There is no fixed-route transit service to the Quonset Point ferry terminal or
within convenient walking distance. Little Rest Limousine provides connections
between selected Amtrak Northeast Corridor trains at the Kingston, Rhode
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Island Station and the ferry terminal. The fare for this service is $22.00 per
person. For children age 3 and younger, the fare is $10.00. Connections from
T.F. Green Airport to the Quonset Point ferry terminal are provided by Airport
Limousine. The fare for this service is $15.00 per person, with children age 3
and younger carried free. The Amtrak and airport connections both have limited
capacity and require advance reservations.
At Oak Bluffs, the town landing has a concrete dock with movable gangways
and is in excellent condition. There are several benches, but no ticket office,
shelter, or other passenger amenities at the landing.
There is no parking at the terminal in Oak Bluffs. Bus transportation
connections at Oak Bluffs are discussed above in section 5.1.6, under
Steamship Authority service between Woods Hole and Martha’s Vineyard.
5.10
New Jersey and New York City to Oak Bluffs
5.10.1 Route Location and Operator
Seasonal weekend and holiday service from New Jersey and New York City to
the Steamship Authority terminal in Oak Bluffs is operated by SeaStreak, LLC.
This route starts at Conner’s Highlands Terminal in Highlands, New Jersey,
makes an intermediate stop at the East 35th Street Pier on the East River in
Manhattan, then runs nonstop to Oak Bluffs. SeaStreak is affiliated with Bay
State Cruises, which operates seasonal service between Provincetown and
Boston, as discussed in section 4.1 above.
5.10.2 2013 Schedule
Service operates from May 24 to September 2 on Fridays, Sundays, and
holidays. On Fridays only, trips leave Conner’s Highlands at 2:50 PM and East
35th Street at 4:30 PM and arrive at Oak Bluffs at 9:45 PM; on Sundays only,
return trips leave Oak Bluffs at 3:00 PM and arrive at East 35th Street at 8:15
PM and Conner’s Highlands at 9:15 PM. Additional trips are run from New
Jersey and New York City to Oak Bluffs on July 3, August 29, and October 11,
returning from Oak Bluffs on July 7, September 2, and October 14. On some
dates passengers going from Conner’s Highlands to Oak Bluffs need to make
boat-to-boat transfers at East 35th Street. The return trips run through from
Oak Bluffs to Conner’s Highlands.
5.10.3 Vessels Used on This Route
Service is provided with one of the four 405-passenger high-speed catamarans
from the SeaStreak fleet, which have top speeds of 42 knots and cruising
speeds of 38 knots. The boat currently assigned to this service is the
SeaStreak Wall Street.
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5.10.4 Fares in 2013
Fares on this route are not regulated. Adult fares between New Jersey or New
York City and Oak Bluffs are $165.00 one way or $240.00 round trip on the
regular Friday and Sunday trips. On the extra holiday trips, fares are $185.00
one way or $290.00 round trip. For children ages 2 through 12, fares on the
regular trips are $75.00 one way or $135.00 round trip, and fares on the extra
holiday trips are $95.00 one way or $145.00 round trip. From these fares,
SeaStreak is required to pay an embarkation fee of 50 cents to the town of Oak
Bluffs for each passenger boarding a boat in that town.
5.10.5 Annual Ridership
At this writing, CTPS has not received ridership information requested for this
route. This summer, SeaStreak has scheduled 18 round-trips on the route. The
vessels usually assigned have capacity for 7,290 passengers in each direction
during the course of the entire season, but not all trips are expected to sell out.
5.10.6 Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
At the Conner’s Highlands Terminal in New Jersey, the waiting room and ticket
office are on board an enclosed barge semi-permanently anchored at the outer
end of a covered pier extending from a parking lot. There are about 550 free
parking spaces in lots at the terminal, but they are intended mostly for use by
commuters going to New York City. Overnight parking in these lots is not
allowed for more than one night, but a round-trip on the ferry to Martha’s
Vineyard would require parking for at least two nights. For longer overnight
parking, independently operated valet service is available at $15.00 per night.
This service is not useful for passengers on the Martha’s Vineyard ferry route
because vehicles cannot be retrieved on Sundays, when the ferries return.
New Jersey Transit bus Route 834 from Red Bank terminates a short distance
from the Conner’s Highlands ferry terminal. It would be feasible to use this
route to connect with the Friday ferry departure for Martha’s Vineyard, but there
is no Sunday service on this bus route.
There is no parking at the East 35th Street terminal in New York. Frequent
cross-town bus service on East 34th Street from the ferry terminal is provided
by New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus Route
M34. The nearest subway station is at East 33rd Street and Park Avenue,
about 0.8 miles from the ferry terminal. The East 35th Street pier is part of the
East 34th Street ferry complex owned by the City of New York. The facilities
there were upgraded in 2008 with funding from the Federal Highway
Administration.
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Transportation connections at Oak Bluffs are discussed in section 5.1.6 above
under Steamship Authority service to Martha’s Vineyard.
5.11
Montauk, New York, to Oak Bluffs
5.11.1 Route Location and Operator
Viking Fleet operates one round trip each summer from Montauk, New York, to
Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. This trip is run as the first and last legs of an
annual whale-watch excursion from Montauk to the Great South Channel, an
undersea canyon between Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank. The full
excursion is sponsored by the Coastal Research and Education Society of
Long Island (CRESLI). However, Viking Fleet markets the segment between
Montauk and Oak Bluffs separately as a means of traveling to Martha’s
Vineyard for a brief vacation. In Montauk the departure point is the Viking Dock
at 462 Westlake Drive.
5.11.2 2013 Schedule
The one annual trip this year is scheduled to depart from Montauk on Sunday,
August 11, at 6:30 PM and arrive at Oak Bluffs at 12:30 AM on August 12. The
return trip is scheduled to leave Oak Bluffs at 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 13,
and arrive back in Montauk at 9:30 PM.
5.11.3 Vessel Used on This Route
The vessel scheduled to be used for this trip is the Viking Starship, a 140-foot
monohull licensed to carry 300 passengers. This boat is usually used on long
fishing excursions, and is equipped with 70 navy-style bunks in addition to
various types of seating.
5.11.4 Fares in 2013
Fares on this route are not regulated. Adult fares for the Montauk-Oak Bluffs
segment of the trip are $70.00 one way or $120.00 round trip. Fares for
children ages 5 to 12 are $40.00 one way or $70.00 round trip. For passengers
making the full round trip to the Great South Channel without stopping at Oak
Bluffs, tickets must be purchased from CRESLI. The fares for that trip are
$275.00 for members or $300 for non-members, with half fares for children
ages 7 through 12 and free for children age 6 or younger.
5.11.5 Ridership
This trip uses a boat with a capacity of 300 passengers. This is the maximum
number of riders in each direction, and many if not most of the passengers on
the one annual trip will not be leaving the boat while it is at Oak Bluffs.
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5.11.6 Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
At Montauk, the boat departs from the Viking Dock at 462 Westlake Drive.
Viking Fleet passengers are allowed to park in a 250-space paved lot across
the street from the ferry terminal. The boat dock is 2 miles from the terminal of
the MTA Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Montauk branch from New York City.
Taxi connections are available, but a connection to the Sunday boat departure
would require a wait of several hours. The 9:30 PM Tuesday boat arrival would
allow connection to a 10:38 PM LIRR train departure. A local bus route that
serves Montauk does not operate on Sundays, and does not run late enough
on weekdays to connect with the return trip of the boat from Martha’s Vineyard.
Published information about this trip does not specify the location of the Oak
Bluffs arrival and departure point, but it likely would be at the town landing on
Oak Bluffs Harbor. The scheduled Sunday arrival time of the boat would not
allow for reliable connections with any of the bus service operated by the
Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority. However, the scheduled
Tuesday departure time would allow for connections from VTA Service,
described in section 5.1.6 above.
6
SERVICE TO NANTUCKET
Ferry service to the island of Nantucket is provided by the Steamship Authority
and by two private operators. Information on the statutory relationship between
the SSA and private operators is discussed in section 5 under service to
Martha’s Vineyard.
6.1
Hyannis to Nantucket (Steamship Authority)
6.1.1
Route Locations and Operator
The Steamship Authority operates two services between terminals it owns in
Hyannis and Nantucket. The Traditional service runs year round and transports
both passengers and vehicles. The High-Speed service runs for part of the
year, carrying only passengers in a high-speed catamaran.
6.1.2
2013 Schedule
The Steamship Authority has two schedules for the Traditional service. From
January 1 to June 20, except around Memorial Day, and from September 4 to
December 31, a three-round-trip schedule is used. Under this schedule,
departures are at 9:15 AM and at 2:45 and 8:00 PM from Hyannis and at 6:30
AM, noon, and 5:30 PM from Nantucket. From May 22 through May 27 and
from June 21 through September 3, a six-round-trip schedule is used. This
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schedule includes all of the trips in the three-round-trip schedule and additional
departures from Hyannis at 7:15 AM and at 1:00 and 6:30 PM, and from
Nantucket at 10:15 AM and at 3:45 and 9:00 PM. The scheduled travel time for
each of these trips is 2 hours and 15 minutes.
The High-Speed service to Nantucket will operate from April 10 through
December 31. From April 10 through May 15 and from October 16 through
December 31 there are four round trips daily. Departures are at 8:00 and 11:00
AM and at 1:55 and 4:30 PM from Hyannis and at 9:30 AM and 12:30, 3:15,
and 6:00 PM from Nantucket. From May 16 through October 15, a fifth round
trip will be added, leaving Hyannis at 7:15 PM and Nantucket at 8:30 PM. The
scheduled travel time for all of these trips is 1 hour.
6.1.3
Vessels Used on These Routes
SSA’s Traditional service to Nantucket requires two vessels during the peak
summer schedule. These usually are the Eagle and the Nantucket. The Eagle
has a top speed of about 14.5 knots and a capacity of 1,000 passengers. The
Nantucket has a top speed of about 14 knots and a capacity of 1,166
passengers. The regular schedules of these boats are supplemented by
operation of the Gay Head, with a top speed of 13.5 knots. It is designed mainly
for transporting freight in trucks, but is licensed to carry 149 passengers.
All of the High-speed service trips are provided by the Iyanough, a catamaran
with a cruising speed of 35 knots and a capacity of 393 passengers.
6.1.4
Fares in 2013
As discussed in greater detail in section 5 under Martha’s Vineyard service, the
Steamship Authority sets its own fares. One-way fares on the Traditional
Nantucket service, subject to change, are $17.50 for adults, $9.00 for children
ages 5 to 12, and free for children younger than age 5. No round-trip discounts
are offered. Rates for transporting vehicles between Hyannis and Nantucket
vary by season and by vehicle size. The Steamship Authority is the only boat
operator serving Nantucket that transports both passengers and vehicles.
On the High-Speed service, one-way fares, subject to change, are $36.50 for
adults, $18.75 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children younger than age
5. Unrestricted round-trip fares are $69.00 for adults and $35.00 for children.
Same-day round-trip fares valid Monday through Thursday only are $50.00 for
adults and $25.00 for children. From these fares, the SSA is required to pay
embarkation fees of 50 cents to the towns of Barnstable and Nantucket for
each passenger boarding a boat in that town.
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Annual Ridership
In calendar year 2012, the Steamship Authority carried 558,539 passengers
between Hyannis and Nantucket on Traditional and High-Speed service
combined. This was an average of 46,545 passengers per month, but there
was substantial seasonal variation. As in most recent past seasons, ridership
was highest in August (115,532 in 2012) and lowest in January and February
(10,677 and 10,760, respectively, in 2012). The SSA also carried 64,297 cars
and 40,799 trucks between Hyannis and Nantucket in 2012.
6.1.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
The Steamship Authority terminal in Hyannis has capacity for simultaneous
docking of two passenger-and-vehicle transporting vessels and one passengeronly vessel. There is a large ticket office and waiting room next to the docks.
The Authority operates four parking lots for ferry passengers in Hyannis.
Parking for about 65 vehicles, including six handicap spaces, is available in a
paved lot adjoining the ferry terminal. Paved lots at 75 Yarmouth Road and at
61 Lewis Bay Road each have about 225 spaces. A lot at 30 Brooks Road is
unpaved, without delineated spaces. The Authority monitors lot occupancy
closely and posts notices on its website and on signs along roads leading to the
terminal directing drivers to which lots they should proceed at a given time.
The SSA Hyannis ferry terminal and the parking lot there and the satellite lots
on Yarmouth Road and Lewis Bay Road are all owned by the SSA. The
satellite lot on Brooks Road is owned by the town of Barnstable and adjoins the
municipal airport.
Parking rates at the Authority lots vary by season. Currently, at the satellite lots
the rate is $15.00 a day from June 15 through September 14; $12.00 a day
from May 1 through June 14 and from September 15 through October 31;
$10.00 a day from April 1 through April 30 and from November 1 through
December 14; and $5.00 a day the rest of the year. At the ferry terminal, the
parking rate is $20.00 a day from June 15 through September 14; $15.00 a day
from May 1 through June 14 and from September 15 through October 31;
$10.00 a day from April 1 through April 30 and from November 1 through
December 14; and $5.00 a day the rest of the year. The Steamship Authority
provides free shuttle service between the satellite lots and the terminal.
Information on transit connections in Hyannis is provided above in section 5.5.6
under Hy-Line ferry service from Hyannis to Oak Bluffs. The Hyannis bus
terminal, also used by the CapeFlyer trains, is on Main Street 0.4 miles from
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the Steamship Authority terminal. The Authority provides free shuttle service
between the CapeFlyer trains at the station and the ferry terminal.
At Nantucket, the Steamship Authority terminal is at the east end of Broad
Street, a short distance north of the wharf used by the Hy-Line. Transportation
connections at Nantucket are the same as those discussed above in section
5.1.6 under Hy-Line service from Nantucket to Oak Bluffs.
6.2
Hyannis to Nantucket (Hy-Line)
6.2.1
Route Locations and Operator
Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc., doing business as Hy-Line Cruises, operates two
services between the Hy-Line terminal in Hyannis and Straight Wharf in
Nantucket. The High-Speed Ferry runs year-round. The Traditional Ferry runs
from mid-May through mid-October. Fares, schedules, and vessels used on
this route are subject to approval of the Steamship Authority.
6.2.2
2013 Schedule
Currently, there are two schedules for the Hy-Line High-Speed Ferry. The
schedule used from January 1 through May 15 and again from October 16
through December 31 has five round trips per day. Departures are at 6:30 and
9:10 AM, at noon, and at 3:10 and 7:00 PM from Hyannis; and at 7:45 and
10:35 AM and 1:25, 4:35, and 8:10 PM from Nantucket. The scheduled oneway time for each of these trips is 1 hour.
From May 16 through October 15, the departure times of the fifth round trip
change to 6:00 PM from Hyannis and 7:20 PM from Nantucket. At the same
time, a sixth round trip is added, leaving Hyannis at 8:45 PM and Nantucket at
10:00 PM. However, from September 6 through October 11, the sixth round trip
will run only on Fridays.
The Hy-Line Traditional Ferry to Nantucket operates from May 18 to October
20, 2013, using three different schedules during this period. The schedule used
from May 18 to May 23 and from September 3 to October 20 has one round trip
per day, departing Hyannis at 9:30 AM and Nantucket at 4:10 PM. This round
trip is also included in all of the other schedules. The schedule used from May
24 to September 2 provides a second round trip, departing Hyannis at 1:40 PM
and Nantucket at 11:35 AM. The schedule used from May 24 to May 27 and
from June 15 to September 2 includes a third round trip, departing Hyannis at
6:20 PM and Nantucket at 8:20 PM. The scheduled one-way travel time for
each of these trips is 1 hour and 50 minutes.
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Vessels Used on These Routes
The usual vessel for the Hy-Line High-Speed Ferry to Nantucket is the
catamaran Grey Lady, which has a capacity of 300 passengers and a cruising
speed of about 30 knots. The usual boat for the Hy-Line Traditional Ferry to
Nantucket is the monohull ferry Great Point. This boat has a capacity of 800
passengers and a top speed of 17 knots.
6.2.4
Fares in 2013
Fares on the Hy-Line High-Speed Ferry to Nantucket are $41.00 one way or
$77.00 round trip for adults and $29.00 one way or $51.00 round trip for
children ages 5 through 12. Children younger than age 5 ride free.
Fares on the Hy-Line Traditional Ferry to Nantucket are $22.50 one way or
$45.00 round trip for adults. As many as three children age 12 or younger are
allowed to travel free with each adult.
6.2.5
Annual Ridership
At this writing, CTPS has not received ridership information requested for this
route. In 2009, the most recent year for which published figures are available,
Hy-Line reported a combined total of 342,635 riders on its Traditional and HighSpeed service between Hyannis and Nantucket. Schedules and fares in 2013
will differ only slightly from those in 2009.
6.2.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
Transportation connections at Hyannis and other information about the terminal
facilities there are discussed above in the section 5.5.6 under Hy-Line service
from Hyannis to Oak Bluffs. Connections at Nantucket and other information
about the terminal facilities there are discussed in the section 5.6.6 Hy-Line
service from Nantucket to Oak Bluffs.
6.3
Harwich Port to Nantucket
6.3.1
Route Location and Operator
Freedom Cruise Line, Inc. operates seasonal service from Saquatucket Harbor
in Harwich Port to Straight Wharf on Nantucket. Fares, schedules, and vessels
used on this route are subject to approval of the Steamship Authority.
6.3.2
2013 Schedule
The operating season runs from May 24 to September 28. The schedule in
effect on Memorial Day weekend (May 24 to May 27), from June 11 through
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June 27, and from August 30 through September 28, provides one round trip
per day. In this schedule, departures from Harwich Port are at 8:50 AM, and
departures from Nantucket are at 4:10 PM. The schedule in effect from June 28
through August 29 provides three round trips a day, departing Harwich Port at
8:00 and 11:20 AM and at 5:40 PM, and Nantucket at 9:30 AM and at 4:10 and
7:30 PM. Scheduled trip times are 80 minutes in each direction except for one
trip scheduled for 70 minutes.
6.3.3
Vessel Used on These Routes
The usual boat on this route is the M.V. Freedom, with a capacity of 100
passengers and a cruising speed of 20 knots.
6.3.4
Fares in 2013
Fares are $39.00 one way or $74.00 round trip for adults. For children ages 2
through 11, fares are $29.00 one way or $51.00 round trip. For children
younger than age 2 the fare is $3.00 one way or $6.00 round trip. From these
fares, Freedom Cruise Line is required to pay embarkation fees of 50 cents to
the towns of Harwich and Nantucket for each passenger boarding a boat in that
town.
6.3.5
Annual Ridership
Freedom Cruise Line carries about 15,000 riders during its annual operating
season on the route between Harwich Port and Nantucket.
6.3.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
At Harwich Port, parking is available in several paved lots near the terminal.
Some of these lots are shared with vehicles parking for fishing excursion boat
passengers and private marina users. For Nantucket passengers returning to
Harwich Port the same day, parking is free. For overnight parking, there is a fee
of $17.00 per night.
Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority Route H2O East from Harwich Port to
Orleans runs Monday through Saturday and stops upon request on Main Street
at the Freedom Cruise Line terminal. To travel to Hyannis and connections with
longer-distance bus service, passengers transfer to Route H2O West at the
Star Market on Sisson Road, 2.2 miles west of the Freedom Line terminal.
(Schedules of the CapeFlyer trains are not compatible with connections to or
from the Freedom Line ferry via the H2O routes except for the Friday evening
return train to Boston.)
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Details about terminal facilities and connections at Nantucket are discussed in
section 5.6.6 above for Hy-Line service from Oak Bluffs to Nantucket.
7
SERVICE TO CUTTYHUNK
7.1
Route Location and Operator
Cuttyhunk is the westernmost island in the Elizabeth Islands chain on Vineyard
Sound and is part of the town of Gosnold. Year-round ferry service from the
State Pier in New Bedford to Cuttyhunk is operated by the privately owned
Cuttyhunk Ferry Company. Schedules vary by time of year.
7.2
2013 Schedule
Currently, the scheduled one-way trip time on all trips from New Bedford to
Cuttyhunk is 1 hour.
The schedule in effect before April 13 and after October 20 provides service on
Mondays and Fridays only, leaving New Bedford at 9:00 AM and Cuttyhunk at
2:00 PM.
The schedule used from April 13 through May 23 provides service on Sunday,
Monday, Friday, and Saturday only, leaving New Bedford at 9:00 AM and
Cuttyhunk at 3:00 PM. This schedule will also be used from September 30 to
October 20, but with additional Friday trips from New Bedford at 6:00 PM and
from Cuttyhunk at 7:00 PM through October 11. On Columbus Day, there will
be added trips from Cuttyhunk at 11:00 AM and from New Bedford at noon.
The schedule used from May 24 through June 14 has daily departures from
New Bedford at 9:00 AM and from Cuttyhunk at 4:00 PM. On Fridays only, this
schedule provides additional departures from New Bedford at 6:00 PM and
from Cuttyhunk at 7:00 PM. A similar schedule is used from September 3 to
September 29, except that the daily Cuttyhunk departures then are at 3:00 PM.
The schedule in effect from June 15 through September 2 includes daily
departures from New Bedford at 9:00 AM, with additional departures at 2:30
PM on Sundays, at 7:00 PM on Fridays, and at 1:00 PM on Saturdays. Return
departure times from Cuttyhunk in this schedule are 4:00 PM Monday through
Saturday and noon and 5:00 PM on Sundays, with additional trips at 8:00 PM
on Fridays and 11:00 AM on Saturdays. On Labor Day, there will be added
trips from Cuttyhunk at noon and from New Bedford at 2:00 PM.
7.3
Vessel Used on This Route
All service on this route is provided with the M.V. Cuttyhunk, which is a 149passenger monohull vessel with a cruising speed of 16 knots.
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Fares in 2013
Fares on this route are not regulated. One-way fares, subject to change, are
$28.00 for adults or $23.00 for children ages 3 through 12. Round-trip fares
valid only for same-day travel are $45.00 for adults or $35.00 for children. Tenride commuter passes are also available for $250.00.
7.5
Annual Ridership
At this writing, CTPS has not received ridership information requested for this
route.
7.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
The Cuttyhunk Ferry Company does not use the main ferry terminal at the
State Pier in New Bedford, but instead has a separate terminal at the south
side of the Pier. There is a small wooden ticket office, there, but no waiting
room, shelter, or benches for passengers. However, passengers are allowed to
board the boat about one hour before departure time. A limited amount of
parking for Cuttyhunk Ferry passengers is available in a paved lot at the State
Pier. Passes priced at $10 per day for use of these spaces are available from
the ferry ticket office. After these spaces are filled, drivers are directed to other
parking facilities in the area by ferry personnel. Additional information about
terminal facilities and transportation connections at New Bedford is cited above
in section 5.4.6 under Seastreak service from New Bedford to Martha’s
Vineyard.
On Cuttyhunk Island the ferry uses the Gosnold Fuel Service dock at 1
Cuttyhunk Road, next to the deactivated U.S. Coast Guard Cuttyhunk Station.
The dock is of wood construction, and is in good condition. There are no
waiting facilities for passengers at the dock.
There are few motor vehicles on Cuttyhunk Island. The most common means
of transportation there other than walking are bicycles and electric golf carts. At
the approach to the dock there is a gravel-surfaced parking lot with capacity for
about 10 vehicles, and there is room for additional parking on the shoulders of
Cuttyhunk Road. There is no transit service on the island.
8
SERVICE TO BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS
Seasonal ferry service is provided to eight of the islands in the Boston Harbor
Islands National Park from Boston or from other points along Massachusetts
Bay.
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8.1
Boston to Spectacle Island and Georges Island
8.1.1
Route Location and Operator
July 25, 2013
Water Transportation Alternatives, doing business as Boston’s Best Cruises,
operates ferry service between Long Wharf in Boston and Spectacle and
Georges Islands by arrangement with the Massachusetts Department of
Conservation and Recreation. Currently, this ferry service runs from May 11
through October 14.
8.1.2
2013 Schedule
The WTA schedule for this service for May 11 through June 20, 2013 provided
six daily trips, with the first departure from Long Wharf at 9:30 AM and the last
at 3:45 PM. An additional 5:00 PM departure was run on Saturdays only.
Departures in this schedule were spaced at uniform intervals of 1 hour and 15
minutes. The 9:30 AM, noon, and 2:30 PM departures stopped first at
Spectacle Island 20 minutes after departure and arrived at Georges Island 45
minutes after departure. They then made 25-minute non-stop runs back to
Long Wharf. The other three daily trips ran nonstop from Long Wharf to
Georges Island, leaving there 30 minutes after departure, leaving Spectacle
Island 25 minutes after that, and arriving at Long Wharf 15 minutes after
leaving Spectacle Island. The Saturday-only trip ran only between Long Wharf
and Georges Island.
In addition to these trips, the WTA schedule from May 11 to June 20 included
six daily Harbor Cruises of 1 hour and 10 minutes each, with stopovers of about
30 minutes at Spectacle Island. These trips departed from Long Wharf at
intervals of 1 hour and 15 minutes from 10:15 AM to 4:30 PM.
In the WTA schedule in effect from June 21 to September 2, Georges Island
and Spectacle Island are served by separate routes. The Georges Island
Route, also called Route 1/Green, has 10 daily departures from Long Wharf,
leaving hourly from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and at 4:15 PM, with an added 6:00
PM trip on Fridays and Saturdays only. The scheduled trip time is 25 minutes
each way.
The Spectacle Island Route, also called Route 2/Red has 6 daily departures
from 9:30 AM to 5:15 PM at intervals ranging from 45 minute to 2 hours and 30
minutes. The scheduled trip time is 15 minutes each way. In addition to these,
WTA operates narrated National Historic Landmarks cruises that include brief
stopovers at Spectacle Island. These are discussed in more detail in section
11.2 under Boston’s Best Cruises.
From June 21 to September 2, a connecting route from Spectacle Island to
Georges Island (Route 2/Orange) has four midday round trips scheduled at 90-
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minute intervals with travel times of 20 minutes between the two islands. These
trips are provided by the same boat used on the Long Wharf-Spectacle Island
route, between trips on that route.
From September 3 through October 14, 2013, the WTA schedule provides
limited service to the Harbor Islands from Long Wharf. On Mondays through
Wednesdays there are six round trips a day to Spectacle Island only, leaving
Long Wharf at intervals of one hour and 15 minutes from 10:15 AM to 4:30 PM.
From Thursday through Sunday, service is provided to both Spectacle Island
and Georges Island on the same schedule of six round trips a day and a
seventh trip on Fridays only, described above for service from May 11 to June
20.
8.1.3
Vessels Used on This Route
The usual boats for the WTA service between Long Wharf and the Harbor
Islands and the connector route between Spectacle Island and Georges Island
are the Island Discovery and the Island Expedition. These are catamarans, with
top speeds of 24 knots and capacities of 200 passengers each. The historic
landmarks cruises are provided on the Island Adventure, a monohull with a
capacity of 140 passengers.
8.1.4
Fares in 2013
Only round-trip fares are sold for Boston Harbor Islands service. Currently,
fares are $15.00 for adults, $11.00 for seniors, and $9.00 for children ages 4
through 11. Children younger than age 4 ride free. Four-person family fares are
available for $43.00.
8.1.5
Annual Ridership
CTPS has not obtained ridership information for this service. The Boston
Harbor Island Partnership reported approximately 107,000 visitors to the
Harbor Islands on all ferry routes combined in 2011.
8.1.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
Long Wharf is owned by the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The ferry
service to Georges Island and Spectacle Island uses the north side of the
wharf, which is also used by the Quincy/Hull commuter boat route. There are
no dedicated parking facilities for boat passengers at Long Wharf, but there are
many commercial parking lots and garages within walking distance. Aquarium
Station on the MBTA rapid transit Blue Line has an entrance at the inner end of
Long Wharf.
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Motor vehicles are not permitted on the islands except for emergency and
maintenance vehicles. The DCR owns and manages Georges Island, including
the ferry landing. Ownership of Spectacle Island is divided between the DCR
and the City of Boston. The DCR manages the facilities including the ferry
landing.
8.2
Hingham and Hull to Harbor Islands
8.2.1
Route Location and Operator
Boston’s Best Cruises operates a route from the Hingham commuter boat
terminal to the Harbor Islands (Route 4/Blue), with various combinations of
intermediate stops. After leaving Hingham, trips with the maximum number of
stops serve Grape, Bumpkin, and Peddocks Islands, the Hull commuter boat
terminal, Georges Island, and Lovell’s Island.
8.2.2
2013 Schedule
Currently, service is provided from June 21 to September 2. There are four
daily departures from Hingham, at 9:00 and 10:10 AM and at 1:10 and 3:55
PM, with an additional 6:15 PM departure on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
The 9:00 AM departure is a round trip from Hingham to Bumpkin Island, with
one intermediate stop at Grape Island in each direction. The 10:10 AM
departure makes all intermediate stops from Hingham to Lovell’s Island, then
returns, making all stops except Hull. The 1:10 PM departure goes from
Hingham to Lovell’s Island, and makes all stops except Grape and Bumpkin
Islands but does make all stops on the return trip. The 3:55 PM departure omits
Bumpkin Island and Hull outbound from Hingham and omits Bumpkin and
Grape Islands inbound. The extra trip on Thursday through Saturday is a round
trip from Hingham to Peddocks Island, stopping at Grape and Bumpkin Islands
outbound only.
Schedules are arranged to allow some transfers at Georges Island between
this route and the Long Wharf-Georges Island route.
8.2.3
Vessel Used on This Route
Service on this route is usually provided by a monohull water taxi with a
cruising speed of 14 knots and a capacity of 88 passengers.
8.2.4
Fares in 2013
Fares on the route from Hingham to the Harbor Islands are the same as those
on the route from Long Wharf, presented in section 8.1.4 above. Free transfers
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between the Long Wharf route and the Hingham route at Georges Island are
allowed.
8.2.5
Annual Ridership
CTPS has not obtained ridership information for this service.
8.2.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
Transportation connections at Hingham are discussed above in section 2.016
under the Hingham commuter boat. Connections at Hull are discussed in
section 2.2.6 under the Quincy/Hull commuter boat. No motor vehicles except
emergency or maintenance vehicles are permitted on any of the islands served
by this route. All of the islands served by this route are managed by the DCR.
8.3
Boston to Thompson Island
8.3.1
Route Location and Operator
On summer weekends, ferry service open to the general public is operated
from the EDIC Pier in South Boston (on the Reserved Channel near the
Summer Street Bridge) to Thompson Island. This service is provided by the
Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center. The EDIC Pier is named
for the former Boston Economic Development Industrial Corporation, which
was succeeded in 1993 by the Economic Development Division of the Boston
Redevelopment Authority.
8.3.2
2013 Schedule
Service is provided from May 25 to September 1. On Saturdays, departures
from the EDIC Pier are at 8:00 AM, noon, and 2:30 PM and departures from
Thompson Island are at 11:30 AM and at 2:00 and 4:30 PM. On Sundays the
2:00 PM trip from Thompson Island and the 2:30 PM trip from the EDIC Pier
are omitted. Scheduled trip times are 25 minutes each way.
8.3.3
Vessel Used on This Route
The usual boat used on this route is the Outward Bound, with a capacity of 149
passengers and a top speed of 11 knots.
8.3.4
Fares in 2013
Fares (round trip only) are $14.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors, $8.00 for
children ages 3 to 11, and free for children younger than age 3.
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Annual Ridership
CTPS has not obtained ridership figures for this route. The current operating
season provides service on 15 weekends, with five round trips on each
weekend for a total of 75 round trips. The boat used provides capacity for
11,250 passenger trips in each direction during the entire operating season.
8.3.6 Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
The EDIC Pier is owned by the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The pier has
a concrete-surface floating dock in fair condition. There is no ticket office and
no shelter for passengers. There are no dedicated parking facilities for the
Thompson Island ferry at the EDIC Pier. Passengers arriving by car are
advised to park in the Marine Industrial Park garage about 0.25 miles away at
12 Drydock Avenue.
Currently, passengers making day trips to Thompson Island need to park for
either 3, 5, or 10 hours. At 2013 parking rates, the cost of this parking is$6.00,
$9.00, or $15.00, respectively. The rate for overnight parking is $27.00 for each
24-hour period.
The EDIC Pier is about 1 mile from South Station, where there are connections
to MBTA Red Line rapid transit service, MBTA South-Side commuter rail lines
(not all of which have weekend service), Amtrak intercity passenger trains, and
many intercity and commuter bus lines. MBTA bus Route 7 provides a
connection from South Station to a stop on Summer Street near the EDIC Pier
on Saturdays but not on Sundays. MBTA Silver Line Waterfront Route SL2
provides daily service from South Station to the Boston Marine Industrial Park.
The stop at Drydock Avenue at 1 Design Center Place is near the parking
garage entrance, about 0.25 miles from the Pier.
Thompson Island is managed by the Thompson Island Outward Bound
Education Center. The ferry uses a floating dock at the outer end of a long pier.
The only motor vehicles on the island are ones used in conjunction with the
operation of the school.
8.4
Boston to Little Brewster Island
8.4.1
Route Location and Operator
Tours of Boston Light on Little Brewster Island are scheduled to take place on
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from June 14 through September 29. These
tours are run under the sponsorship of the Boston Harbor Island Alliance.
Groups assemble at the Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion on the Rose Kennedy
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Greenway north of State Street, and proceed from there to New England
Aquarium Dock E.
8.4.2
2013 Schedule
Tours start at 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM and last about 3 hours. Travel time
between the Aquarium Wharf and Little Brewster Island is about 45 minutes in
each direction.
8.4.3
Vessel Used on This Route
Tours to Little Brewster Island are provided by a boat with a capacity limited to
44 passengers.
8.4.4
Fares in 2013
Fares are $39.00 for adults, $35.00 for seniors, $29.00 for children ages 3 to
11, and free for children younger than age 3.
8.4.5
Annual Ridership
CTPS has not obtained ridership figures for this route. Currently, it is scheduled
to operate three days a week, twice a day for 16 weeks. If all trips run, there
would be 96 trips, providing a maximum capacity of 4,224 round-trip riders
during the operating season.
8.4.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
Transportation connections to the Harbor Islands Pavilion or the Aquarium
wharf are essentially the same as those described above in section 2.2.6 for
connections at Long Wharf for the Quincy/Hull commuter boat.
Little Brewster Island is managed by the U.S. Coast Guard First District. The
island is only about 600 feet long, with a maximum width of about 200 feet.
There are no motor vehicles on the island.
8.5
Quincy to Georges Island
During summer months, selected trips on the MBTA’s Quincy/Hull/Logan
Airport commuter boat route make an intermediate stop at Georges Island.
These are intended to serve passengers traveling between the island and
Quincy rather than between the island and Boston. On weekdays, two trips in
each direction stop at Georges Island. On Saturdays and Sundays, six trips in
each direction stop there. Full details about the Quincy commuter boat are
provided in section 2.2 of this memo.
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Winthrop to Boston Harbor Islands
In 2012, Boston Harbor Cruises provided ferry service between Winthrop and
Spectacle Island on weekends from June 30 through September 2. In 2013,
this is replaced by service between Winthrop, Lovell’s Island, and Georges
Island with a starting date of July 20. This service is provided by Timothy
Gover, the current operator of service between Winthrop and Boston, with the
same boat used for that service.
The Saturday and Sunday schedule has departures from Winthrop to Georges
Island at 9:00 AM, with return trips leaving the island at 9:50 AM and 4:30 PM.
An additional round trip on Saturdays only leaves Winthrop at 12:30 PM and
Georges Island at 1:30 PM. The 4:30 PM trips from the island are run by a boat
that leaves Winthrop for Rowes Wharf in Boston at 3:00 PM, and leaves Rowes
Wharf for the island at 3;30.
On Tuesdays only, the 9:30 AM ferry from Winthrop to Rowes Wharf makes
and intermediate stop at Lovell’s Island, leaving there for Boston at 10:15 AM.
A return trip leaves Rowes Wharf at 3:00 PM and Lovell’s Island at 3:45 and
then proceeds to Winthrop. A similar schedule is provided on Wednesdays,
except that the island stops are at Georges Island rather the Lovell’s Island.
9
BOSTON HARBOR WATER TAXIS
The service provided by water taxis is intended mainly to transport passengers
between origins and destinations that are within walking distance of their
boarding and alighting stops. Therefore, in most cases availability of parking
facilities or transit connections at water taxi stops is not a consideration. The
main exception to this is trips to or from Logan Airport. There are some office
buildings and hotels near the airport landing, but most passengers going to or
from the airport terminals use free shuttle buses provided by Massport.
9.1
City Water Taxi
City Water Taxi, “the Checkerboard Fleet,” operates on-demand water taxi
service in Boston Inner Harbor year round. In 2013, this company advertised
service to 22 stops, including 8 on the downtown Boston waterfront, 8 in South
Boston, 3 in Charlestown, and 2 in East Boston, including Logan Airport.
Service is available from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Monday through Saturday and
from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM Sunday. One-way fares are $10.00 for shorterdistance trips and $20.00 for longer-distance trips.
Boats in the City Water Taxi fleet have capacities ranging from 27 to 30
passengers and top speeds ranging from 8 to 15 knots.
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Rowes Wharf Water Transport
Rowes Wharf Water Transport (also known as Rowes Wharf Water Taxi)
operates on-demand water taxi service to most of the same points of interest in
Boston Inner Harbor that are served by City Water Taxi, but mostly from
different docks. Rowes Wharf Water Taxi has exclusive rights to provide water
taxi service to Rowes Wharf. This service uses a dock adjoining that of the
Hingham commuter boat. Tickets are priced at $10.00 one way, $17.00 round
trip, $25.00 for an unlimited day-pass, $50.00 for an unlimited 2-day family
pass, or $50.00 for an unlimited week pass for an individual.
9.3
Boston Harbor Shuttle
In the summer, Boston Harbor Mini Tours and Shuttle, LLC, operates a
scheduled water shuttle loop in Boston Inner Harbor. This service runs on
Thursday through Sunday, making seven stops: Fan Pier, Liberty Wharf,
Charlestown Pier 6, Fairmont Battery Wharf, New England Aquarium, Atlantic
Wharf, and Moakley Federal Courthouse. Trips run hourly from 6:00 PM to 8:00
PM on Thursday, 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM on Friday, 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM on
Saturday, and 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Sunday. Tickets are priced at $10.00
one way, $16.00 two way, or $25.00 for a day pass. For seniors and children
there is a day-pass rate of $23.00.
The boat used on this service is the Precious Time, an open-top monohull with
a capacity of 24 passengers and a cruising speed of about 8 knots.
10
CAPE ANN WATER SHUTTLE
10.1
Route Location and Operator
From mid-May to Columbus Day, Harbor Tours, Inc., of Cape Ann operates a
shuttle boat loop in Gloucester Harbor serving five stops: Captain Solomon
Jacob’s Park Landing, Saint Peter’s Park Town Landing, Rocky Neck, Cripple
Cove Landing, and (upon request) Cruiseport Gloucester.
10.2
2013 Schedule
Service runs on weekends only from mid-May to mid-June and after Labor Day,
with daily service from mid-June to Labor Day. On each service day, the first
departure from Jacob’s Park Landing is at noon and the last at 5:00 PM, with
final arrival at about 6:00 PM. The full loop takes about one hour, with one boat
making continuous trips during hours of operation.
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Vessel Used on Route
The usual boat for this service is the M.V. Lady Jillian, a 38-foot catamaran
water taxi with a cruising speed of 10 knots, licensed to carry 42 passengers.
10.4
Fares in 2013
Published fares are $10.00 for adults or $5.00 for children ages 6 through 12,
good for unlimited stops all day. For a single ride between any two stops, the
fares are half of these rates. Non-transferable season passes are also
advertised, at $50.00 for adults or $25.00 for children, but availability is limited.
10.5
Annual Ridership
CTPS has not obtained ridership information for this route.
10.6
Parking Facilities, Transit Connections, and Other Information
about Terminals
Like water taxis in Boston Harbor, the Gloucester Harbor water shuttle is run
largely to transport passengers between origins and destinations that are within
walking distance of their boarding and alighting stops. The Cape Ann shuttle is
also used to some extent by passengers taking tours of Gloucester Harbor and
returning to their boarding stops without ever leaving the boat.
There is no dedicated parking for the Gloucester Harbor water shuttle, but the
company website suggests four locations for shuttle passengers to park. There
is some free parking at St. Peter’s Square, near the St. Peter’s Town Landing,
and near the Rocky Neck stop. In addition, there is 10-hour metered parking at
Captain Solomon Jacobs Park, near the Jacob’s Park Landing stop, and at the
Gloucester House Restaurant, between the St. Peter’s and Jacob’s Park
Landing stops. No parking is identified near the Cripple Cove Landing or
Cruiseport Gloucester stops.
The Captain Solomon Jacobs Park landing, the St. Peter’s Park Landing and
the Cripple Cove Landing are owned by the City of Gloucester. At Rocky Neck,
the landing used by the Harbor Shuttle is privately owned and is maintained by
the proprietors of the Studio Lounge and Deck Restaurant. The Cruiseport
Gloucester Landing is owned and operated by Cruiseport Gloucester, LLC.
The Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) provides a network of bus
routes mostly serving Gloucester and Rockport. These routes converge at Main
and Pleasant Streets in downtown Gloucester. This location is about 0.25 miles
from both the St. Peter’s and Jacob’s Park Landing water shuttle stops, and on
most of these routes it is possible to board or alight even closer to one or the
other of these landings. Most of the CATA routes run Monday through
Saturday, but there is no Sunday service. Most of the CATA routes have two
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fare zones, with a full fare of $1.00 for one zone or $1.25 for two zones. For
passengers age 60 or older, the fares are 50 cents for one zone or 60 cents for
two zones. Children younger than age 5 ride free.
The Gloucester commuter rail station is about 0.5 miles from the St. Peter’s
Landing. There is daily train service from this station to Boston and
intermediate points and to Rockport.
11
SCHEDULED CRUISES IN BOSTON HARBOR
In addition to the point-to-point water transportation routes in Boston Harbor
discussed in previous sections of this memorandum, several circle and
specialty cruises are operated seasonally. These have some impact on
operation of point-to-point routes to the extent that they share terminal facilities
or marked channels.
11.1
Scheduled Cruises by Boston Harbor Cruises
Boston Harbor Cruises offers a number of scheduled cruise options. These all
depart from the south side of Long Wharf, near the departure points of the
Charlestown commuter boat and BHC Provincetown service. The cruises
advertised for 2013 are listed below. They will use various boats from the large
BHC fleet.
Transportation connections at Long Wharf are discussed in section 2.2.6 under
the Quincy/Hull commuter boat above.
11.1.1 USS Constitution Cruise
This cruise runs daily from March 30 to November 24. Departures are every
hour on the half hour, from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The cruise takes 45 minutes,
but passengers are able to make an optional stopover to tour the USS
Constitution at the Charlestown Navy Yard. Ticket prices are $18.00 for adults,
$16.00 for seniors, and $14.00 for children ages 3 to 11.
11.1.2 Charles River and Locks Cruise
This cruise runs daily from June 22 to September 2. There is one departure on
weekdays, at noon, and three departures on weekend days, July 4, and Labor
Day, at 10:00 AM, noon, and 2:00 PM. The cruise takes 90 minutes, with no
stopovers, and goes through the Charles River Locks and upstream about
halfway between the Longfellow and Harvard bridges. Ticket prices are $23.00
for adults, $21.00 for seniors, and $19.00 for children ages 3 to 11.
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11.1.3 Historic Sightseeing Cruise
This cruise runs daily from May 11 to September 2, then weekends only to
September 29. There are three departures per day, at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and
3:00 PM. The cruise takes 90 minutes, with no stopovers, and provides
narration about various points of interest in Boston’s Inner and Outer Harbors.
Ticket prices are to $23.00 for adults, $21.00 for seniors, and $19.00 for
children ages 3 to 11.
11.1.4 Sunset Cruise
This cruise runs daily from May 11 to September 2, then Thursday through
Sunday until September 22. There is one departure per day, at 7:00 PM. The
cruise takes 90 minutes, with no stopovers, and provides narration to various
points of interest in Boston Harbor, including the USS Constitution. Ticket
prices are $24.00 for adults, $22.00 for seniors, and $20.00 for children ages 3
to 11.
11.1.5 Boston Tea Party Cruise
This cruise runs daily from June 22 to September 2. There are four departures
per day, at 11:00 AM and at 1:00, 3:00, and 5:00 PM. The cruise takes 90
minutes, with a stopover at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum and the
adjacent Children’s Museum. Ticket prices are $24.00 for adults, $22.00 for
seniors, and $20.00 for children ages 3 to 11. Admission to the museums is
additional.
11.1.6 Lighthouse Cruise
This cruise runs on alternate Sundays from June 8 to August 31, then on
September 28. It is a 5-hour cruise, leaving Long Wharf at 10:00 AM and
arriving back at 3:00 PM. It goes southeast as far as Minot’s ledge, off
Cohasset, and northeast as far as Thacher’s Island, off Cape Ann. Ticket prices
are $67.00 for adults, $62.00 for seniors, and $57.00 for children ages 3 to 11.
11.1.7 Brunch and Lunch Cruises
Lunch cruises run weekdays from May 20 to September 2. Brunch cruises run
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from May 25 to September 20. Both are twohour narrated cruises around Boston Inner Harbor, departing at noon. Ticket
prices are $39.95 for all ages.
11.2
Scheduled Cruises in Boston Harbor by Boston’s Best Cruises
In addition to service to Boston Harbor Islands discussed in section 8 above,
Boston’s Best Cruises offers a number of scheduled cruise options. These all
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depart from the north side of Long Wharf, near the departure points of the
Quincy/Hull commuter boat. Cruises advertised for 2013 are as listed below.
The Harbor, Sunset, and Moonlight cruises use the monohull boat Island
Adventure, which has a capacity of 140 passengers.
11.2.1 Harbor Cruise
This cruise runs daily from May 3 to October 14. There are six departures each
day. Each cruise takes 1 hour and 10 minutes, including a 5-to-10-minute stop
at Spectacle Island. Before June 21 and after September 2, departures are at
intervals of 1 hour and 15 minutes, from 10:15 AM to 4:30 PM. Departure times
from June 22 to September 2are 30 minutes later than these.
Fares for this cruise are $15.00 for adults, $11.00 for seniors, $9.00 for children
ages 4 through 11, and free for children younger than age 4. Family fares valid
for two adults and two children or for one adult, two children, and one senior
are $43.00.
11.2.2 Sunset Cruise
This cruise runs from May 11 to October 14 and takes 90 minutes. From May
11 to June 23 it runs Thursday through Sunday, departing at 7:00 PM. From
June 24 to September 2, it runs daily at 7:00 PM. From September 3, to
October 14 it runs daily at 5:45 PM. Fares are $22.00 for adults, $20.00 for
seniors or for children ages 4 to 11, and free for children younger than age 4.
11.2.3 Moonlight Cruise
This cruise runs on selected Fridays and Saturdays from May 25 to October 18
and takes 90 minutes. Saturday cruises are scheduled for May 25, June 22,
July 20, August 17, and October 18. Friday cruises are scheduled for June 21,
July 19, and August 16. Departures are at 8:30 PM from May through August,
changing to 7:30 PM in September and 7:00 PM in October. Fares are the
same as listed above for the Sunset cruise.
11.2.4 Pirate Cruise
This cruise runs from May 11 through October 31, on weekends only until June
20, and then daily. Departures are at 10:30 AM and at 1:00, 3:30, and 6:15 PM.
Trips take 1 hour and 45 minutes, except for the last trip which takes 2 hours.
Trips are on the replica pirate ship Formidable. Fares for the first three trips are
$35.00 for adults, $32.00 for seniors, $24.00 for children ages 3 to 11, and free
for children younger than age 3. On the 2-hour cruise, the adult fare increases
to $40.00.
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Scheduled Cruises in Boston Harbor by Massachusetts Bay Lines
In addition to trips operated under sub-contract from Boston Harbor Cruises on
the Hingham commuter boat route, Massachusetts Bay Lines operates
scheduled cruises in Boston Harbor as described below. These trips all arrive
at and depart from Rowes Wharf.
11.3.1 Boston Harbor Tour
From July 1 through September 18, Massachusetts Bay Lines operates daily
tours of Boston Harbor. These depart hourly from noon to 6:00 PM and take 50
minutes. Fares are $22.00 for adults, $19.80 for seniors, and $17.60 for
children ages 12 and younger. Most of these trips are on the Seaport Belle, a
replica steam riverboat with a capacity of 120 passengers.
11.3.2 Music Cruises
Massachusetts Bay Lines operates several music cruises chartered by other
organizations but open to the public. In the summer of 2013, these include
Reggae Cruises on two Saturday afternoons a month; “Boatonian” Cruises on
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights; RockOn! Cruises on Friday nights; and
Mojitos Salsa Cruises on Friday and Sunday nights.
Reggae Cruises depart at 3:30 or 4:00 PM at and take 3 hours. They are
restricted to passengers age 21 and older, and the fare is $25.00. Group
discounts are available. The boat used for these cruises is not specified.
Boatonian Cruises, also known as Booze Cruises, start at 9:00 PM and last 3
hours. They are restricted to passengers age 21 and older. Fares on Thursdays
start at $20.00, with a sliding scale for groups that ranges down to$15.00 for
groups of 40 or more people. On Fridays and Saturdays fares range from
$30.00 to $22.50. These trips are usually operated with the Freedom, a
catamaran with a capacity of as many as 350 passengers.
RockOn! Friday cruises board at 7:15 PM, with unspecified return times. They
are restricted to passengers age 21 and older. Fares are $25.00 to $30.00.
Additional cruises are operated on selected Sundays, boarding at 3:15 PM,
with the same fares and age restriction as Friday cruises.
RockOn! cruises are usually operated with the New Boston, a monohull with a
capacity of 380 passengers. Massachusetts Bay Lines operated this boat for
many years in summer service between Boston and Nantasket Beach.
Salsa Cruises start boarding at 7:00 PM and return at 11:00 PM. Fares are
$23.00 if reserved in advance or $28.00 for walk ups. Friday cruises are
restricted to passengers age 21 or older, but Sunday cruises are open to all
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ages. The boat used on these cruises is the Samuel Clemens, a replica river
steamboat with a capacity of 220 passengers.
11.4
Scheduled Cruises in Boston Harbor by Boston Harbor Shuttle
In addition to the loop shuttle route discussed above, Boston Harbor shuttle
operates two harbor tours and a specialty cruise.
11.4.1 Charles River Locks and USS Constitution Cruise
This cruise is run on Fridays through Sundays. Trips depart from Atlantic Wharf
(on the north side of the Congress Street Bridge on the west side of Fort Point
Channel) at noon and 1:30 PM and take 90 minutes. Fares are $39.00 for
adults and $35.00 for children. The boat used is the Sadie, a small water taxi.
11.4.2 Boston Harbor Mini-Cruise
This cruise is also run on Fridays through Sundays. Trips depart from Atlantic
Wharf at 4:30 and 5:30 PM and take 1 hour. Fares are $28.00 for adults and
$24.00 for children. The Sadie is also used on these trips.
11.4.3 Pirate Adventure
This cruise is run on Saturdays and Sundays and is intended to be for children.
Trips depart from Independence Wharf (on the south side of Seaport
Boulevard, on the west side of Fort Point Channel) starting at 11:00 AM, and
take 30 minutes. Fares are $30 per person, regardless of age. The boat used is
the White Pearl, a small water taxi with a capacity of 12 passengers.
11.5
Other Scheduled Lunch, Brunch, and Dinner Cruises in Boston
Harbor
In addition to the scheduled brunch and lunch cruises in Boston Harbor
operated by Boston Harbor Cruises, such cruises are offered by Entertainment
Cruises, which also operates scheduled dinner cruises in the Harbor. Departure
times may vary from day to day, and private charters may preempt cruises for
the general public.
The 700-passenger yacht Odyssey is based at Rowes Wharf, but does not use
the same piers as those used by commuter boats and water taxis there. The
500-passenger yacht Spirit of Boston is based at the World Trade Center.
Lunch and brunch cruises are 2 hours long. Lunch cruises typically depart at
noon. Brunch cruises typically depart at 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM. Dinner cruises
are 3 hours long and typically depart at either 7:00 or 8:00 PM. Prices vary by
cruise. In the spring of 2013, prices for lunch cruises were generally $43.00 and
higher, and prices for dinner cruises were generally $82.00 and higher.
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Transportation connections at Rowes Wharf are discussed in section 2.1.6
above under the Hingham commuter boat. Connections at the World Trade
Center are discussed in section 4.1.6 under the Bay State Cruises
Provincetown route.
11.6
Boston Whale Watch Cruises
In addition to their services discussed in previous sections of this
memorandum, Boston Harbor Cruises and Boston’s Best Cruises also operate
whale watch cruises from Boston.
11.6.1 Whale Watches by Boston Harbor Cruises
Boston Harbor Cruises operates whale watch cruises from March to November
2013, in cooperation with the New England Aquarium. Frequency of cruises
varies during this period. Maximum frequency is provided from June 29 through
September 2. During those weeks there are daily departures from Central
Wharf (at the Aquarium) at 9:00 and 10:00 AM, noon, and 2:00 PM. On
Saturdays and Sundays there are additional departures at 3:00 and 5:30 PM.
These cruises take 3 hours, using high-speed catamarans from the BHC fleet.
The usual vessel for this service is the 250-passenger Cetacea, which also was
used for some weekday peak-period trips on the Quincy/Hull commuter boat
route effective July 1. Fares, subject to change, are $45.00 for adults, $40.00
for seniors, $35.00 for children ages 3 to 11, and $15.00 for children age 3 and
younger. For the 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM trips, family fares for four people are
available for $135.00.
Central Wharf is just south of Long Wharf. Transportation connections at
Central Wharf are the same as those at Long Wharf, discussed above in
section 2.2.6 under the Quincy/Hull commuter boat.
11.6.2 Whale Watches by Boston’s Best Cruises
Boston’s Best Cruises operates whale watch cruises from March to late
October 2013. These depart from the north side of Long Wharf, which is also
the departure point for the Harbor Islands routes and various cruises operated
by Boston’s Best Cruises and for most of the trips on the Quincy/Hull commuter
boat route, now operated by Boston Harbor Cruises.
Frequency of the whale watch cruises varies during the operating season.
Maximum frequency is provided from May 16 to September 8. During those
weeks there are departures at 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM on weekdays and at 10:00
AM and 2:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.
These cruises use the 350-passenger high-speed catamaran Voyager III, which
was also used on some weekday peak-period trips on the Quincy/Hull
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commuter boat route until June 30. Fares for children age 3 and older, adults,
and seniors, are all $35.95. For children age 3 and younger, the fare is $18.00.
The family rate, valid on all trips, is $135.00, covers 2 adults or 2 seniors, and 2
children.
Transportation connections at Long Wharf are discussed in section 2.2.6 above
under the Quincy/Hull commuter boat.
TJH/tjh