Summary of Unfunded 2012 Ferry Boat Discretionary Projects
Project Proponent
Massport
Project Name
Project Description
Funding Requested
Commonwealth Flats Passenger This project would construct the Commonwealth Flats Passenger Water Transportation Terminal in the slip between the
$4,400,000
Terminal
World Trade Center and the Fish Pier along Seaport Boulevard in the South Boston Waterfront. The facility will be located
in Boston Inner Harbor, with potential service connections to both Inner Harbor (City of Boston and other adjacent
municipalities) and Outer Harbor (North and South Shore) destinations. The facility will accommodate a mix of passenger
ferry operations: scheduled water shuttles and on-call water taxis, serving Logan Airport and other Inner Harbor
origins/destinations; commuter ferries connecting to North and South Shore communities; ferries to Cape Cod; potential
Boston Harbor Island National Park ferry connections; and a limited amount of charter and excursion vessels.
City of Salem
Ferry Pier Phase II
This project will complete the construction of the Ferry Pier on Blaney Street in Salem. This project includes construction
of pedestrian access, construction of the final 100-foot section of the pier and other site improvements (including final
landscaping and paving). This work is part of a larger port expansion project that aims to establish and expand water
transportation as a viable mass transit alternative between Boston and Salem and also to seek other destinations to/from
Salem, such as Cape Cod. Construction of the project has been segmented into phases tied to funding availablity. The
first phase of construction began in 2011 with a combination of local and state funds. Work included seawall construction,
utility installation, base paving and installation of an interim, prefabricated ferry terminal. A combination of state and
federal (FBD) funds will enable the City, in 2012, to construct the first 260’ of the pier, wave fence and a portion of the
seawall, install gangway and ramp system, install utilities and begin dredging.
$3,000,000
Steamship Authority
Fairhaven Maintenance
Building & Facilities
The project consists of the construction of a 6,400 sq. ft. metal maintenance building and the demolition of two existing
buildings. The new building will house an expanded inventory stockroom, a larger equipment and tool storage room,
storage bays for vessel parts, a conference/training room and an office for the facility supervisor. The completion of this
project will allow the Authority to consolidate stock rooms currently located in Fairhaven and Falmouth, MA. The ability
to store maintenance equipment such as forklifts, scissor lifts and Genie booms inside a building, when not in use, will
extend the useful life of the equipment. The current buildings are inadequate and need to be replaced. The proposed
new building will provide efficiencies in the Authority’s year-round efforts to maintain, repair and overhaul its fleet on a
regular basis. The removal of the two existing maintenance buildings that are closer to the water will provide additional
harbor vistas to the residents and visitors in the Town of Fairhaven. The project will improve the overall condition and
functioning of the Authority’s vessel maintenance facility.
$1,050,000
MBTA
Hingham Ferry Dock
Replacement
This project will replace the existing Hingham Ferry dock which has been in service twice as long as its expected useful life.
The current dock is fabricated of steel of a lighter weight than desired for a permanent system and is suffering from
corrosion occurring around connection pins exacerbated by the buckled float walls caused by the force of tides and
docked passenger vessels. The system is comprised of ten (10) steel floats that are each 10 feet wide by 40 feet long. In
recent years, the float segments have undergone numerous repairs, and at least two (2) have exceeded their useful life
and are beyond repair. Two independent engineering firms have recommended that the floats be replaced with a system
that can better meet the needs of the MBTA’s operations. The most recent accident happened in May this year when the
floats that haven’t been repaired in the previous emergency repair work in 2010, collapsed interrupting the service. The
repair price was over $200,000. The MBTA is considering one of three (3) design alternatives for a permanent docking
system that meets the service’s long term demands and which is ADA compliant. It will take approximately two (2) years
to design and construct a new dock system.
$1,500,000