Massachusetts Ferry Transportation Compact
Compact Membership Meeting
May 1, 2013
10:30 AM
Finz Restaurant
76 Wharf Street
Salem, Massachusetts
Attendance
Ferry Compact Members:
Name
Clinton Bench
Brendan Crighton
Kimberly Driscoll
Louis Elisa
Andrew Hargens
Vivien Li
Joshua Katz
Jim McKenna
Dr. Beverly Scott
Ed Washburn
William Walker
Members of the Public who signed in:
Name
Martha Bewick
Ron Bourne
Chris Busch
Annette Demchur
Joe Domelowicz
Valerie Gingrich
Kathy Winn
Mary Jane Smalley
Kevin Mooney
Michael Driscoll
Charles Planck
Affiliation
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning
Chief of Staff, Office of Senator McGee
City of Salem
Seaport Advisory Council
The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport)
Boston Harbor Association
Joint Transportation Committee
Town of Winthrop
MassDOT Rail & Transit, MBTA General Manager
City of New Bedford
Boston’s Best Cruises
Affiliation
Town of Hingham
Bourne Consulting
Boston Redevelopment Authority
Central Transportation Planning Staff
Assistant to the Town Manager, Town of Winthrop
Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management
City of Salem
City of Lynn
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Department of Conservation and Recreation
MBTA
Massachusetts Department of Transportation Staff:
Calli Cenizal
Office of Transportation Planning
Ron Killian
Highway Division
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning
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March 20, 2013
Ferry Compact Meeting Summary
Paul Nelson
Office of Transportation Planning
DRAFT Meeting Summary
The meeting began with a welcome from Clinton Bench, the Deputy Director of the MassDOT Office of
Transportation Planning. The compact members then introduced themselves, followed by the members
of the audience. Mr. Bench reminded the group of the ferry compact’s general purpose to advance
water transportation, to improve mobility and assist economic development. He summarized the
activities that have occurred since the last Compact meeting, including that the Central Transportation
Planning Staff (CTPS) had already begun working on the first task of the technical assistance scope. He
then thanked Dr. Beverly Scott, the MBTA General Manager and MassDOT Rail & Transit Division
Administrator, for making time to attend the meeting.
Opening Remarks
Dr. Scott opened the meeting with a few remarks on her past experience working on water
transportation in New Jersey and Rhode Island, and how she was excited to work on it from a
Massachusetts perspective.
Mayor Driscoll of Salem asked if Dr. Scott had any information regarding transportation funding for fiscal
year 2014. Dr. Scott responded that she was hopeful for an increase in transportation investment for the
overall network, including water transportation. However as there is no specific funding set aside for
ferries, she encouraged those interested to be active and specific in their demands. She added that
there are potential opportunities for public-private partnerships, and also that we should be creative
with the partnership funding. For example, waterways qualify as fixed guideways and thus are eligible
for FTA funds, such as New Starts. Dr. Scott suggested that the Ferry Compact scope take into
consideration the examination of funding opportunities.
Vivien Li, Boston Harbor Association, thanked Dr. Scott for her words of support for transportation,
especially in favor of preserving service and raising fares. Dr. Scott commented that it was necessary to
have a careful balance between ridership, fares, and the service network. She added that cost recovery
for the water services is the best in the system, and that marketing could help these services as well.
Jim McKenna, Town of Winthrop, commented that collaboration with the MBTA on fare and system
integration between transit and ferry service would be useful to provide a more seamless ridership
experience. Dr. Scott added that the scope could also look at the operational aspect of ferry service, and
include how to execute the recommendations along with a time frame. The work of this compact should
focus on specific recommendations for a funded program that talks to the customers to remove these
barriers.
Ed Washburn, City of New Bedford, commented that the Steamship Authority (SSA) is a model for
service that can be run without taxpayer subsidies; profitable services can offset unprofitable routes. He
also complimented the Patrick-Murray administration for doing a great job of looking at the
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning
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May 1, 2013
Ferry Compact Meeting Summary
transportation system holistically, including the connection of Boston to New Bedford to Martha’s
Vineyard without using a car.
Clinton Bench, MassDOT, added that the current mapping of the ferry network inventory can reflect
connections with other transportation modes, such as intercity buses.
Mayor Driscoll said that fare integration would be a small scale improvement that would contribute a
much greater positive benefit.
Bill Walker of Boston’s Best Cruises said that Massachusetts has great infrastructure for developing ferry
service, and that fare integration helps remove one of the barriers to using ferry service.
FTA Passenger Ferry Program Update
Paul Nelson of the Office of Transportation Planning then updated the group on the new program called
the Ferry Passenger Program under MAP-21 that had been discussed at the last Compact meeting.
Unfortunately, the notice of funds availability (NOFA) was not made available by the end of April and
was delayed until an unknown date. However, he presented the group with the Ferryboat Discretionary
Program information that could serve as potential criteria for scoring applicants to this new program.
Mr. Bench said that he would be comfortable with how the Compact decided to proceed, and asked the
group if there were any suggestions for methods for initial evaluation of applications. Primarily, all
applicants will need to meet the baseline criteria required by FTA.
Mayor Driscoll asked if MassDOT would carry out the first round of vetting for the baseline compliance
before applying the evaluation criteria. She added that sustainability should be considered in the
applications to FTA. Mr. Bench responded that yes, MassDOT would do the initial screening for
eligibility, and agreed that sustainability, both financially and environmentally, is a good criterion.
Mr. McKenna commented that this could be a difficult situation for first-time project proponents,
because it is difficult to acquire the initial level of data to prove a project is viable when a project has not
actually begun. He suggested that the Compact could help those proponents on the key first steps.
Ms. Li asked if the FTA funding program will be in place for fiscal year 2014. Mr. Nelson responded that
it is expected to be in place for 2014.
Andrew Hargens, Massport, said that there had been several projects submitted and reviewed last year
for Ferryboat Discretionary Funds but did not receive awards; he suggested that this list would be a
good starting point for potential applications.
Chris Busch, City of Boston, commented that they were working with students at MIT to perform and
economic analysis on the financial feasibility of ferry operations.
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May 1, 2013
Ferry Compact Meeting Summary
Mayor Driscoll said that the Compact should also consider an applicant’s readiness to proceed, and to
ensure that proponents can commit to some of their own investment in the project.
Mr. Hargens commented that appealing to multiple types of users, such as commuters and tourists and
residents, can help support ferry service success. Projects that seek to serve this kind of diversity should
be sought.
Mr. Bench said that they would wait and see what the NOFA says, and then advise the group on the
results and how MassDOT would proceed.
Mayor Driscoll asked if it would be useful to involve the federal elected officials in these applications.
Mr. Bench responded that it would depend on how the funding program would be structured, and if
legislative support would advance a project or not.
Overview of the DCR Office of Waterways
Louis Elisa, Seaport Advisory Council briefly introduced the Office of Waterways, which works closely
with the Seaport Advisory Council and the rest of the coastal delegation to guide project development
and funding.
Kevin Mooney of the DCR Office of Waterways presented on the general purpose and processes of the
Office of Waterways. It was formerly part of the Department of Environmental Protection but is now
part of the Department of Conversation and Recreation. The Office deals with anything to do with water
access; it can give grants as well as oversee the design and construction of projects. The Office relies
predominantly on two documents. One carries the guidelines for consultants to help with permitting
and standardizes the planning process. The Office has a master agreement with 49 consultants who all
have to follow the same guidelines. The other document is an inventory of the coastal protection
infrastructure, which only includes state facilities, not private or federal ones. He also provided a case
study of the Squantum Point Park as a possible intermodal hub for ferries. The Office of Waterways has
been working with the National Park Service and other stakeholders on the project.
Mike Driscoll of the Office of Waterways spoke about the support that the office offers to the Seaport
Advisory Council. They provide technical support to projects in the ports of Salem, Gloucester, New
Bedford, Fall River, and Boston. There has been over $50 million invested under the Patrick-Murray
administration; some examples of projects were the Cuttyhunk Pier and the Lynn Blossom Ferry pier. He
also spoke on the Rivers and Harbors program, which duplicates the Seaport Advisory Council program
application.
Mr. Bench commented that this would be an opportunity for the MassDOT Rail & Transit Division, as
well as CTPS, to work with the Office of Waterways to inventory ferry service and facilities and gather
other data for future evaluation.
Mayor Driscoll thanked the Office of Waterways for all their work, especially in and around Salem.
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning
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May 1, 2013
Ferry Compact Meeting Summary
Martha Bewick of Hingham asked if there was a maritime security component to the inventory.
Mr. Mooney replied that part of their analysis did look at emergency access and the implications of
potential services failures for evacuation routes. Mr. Driscoll added that they have used Homeland
Security funding in the past to improve facilities for the Coast Guard and police to increase protection.
Mr. Elisa suggested that Homeland Security could be involved in future meetings of the compact to
discuss impacts on access to the greater coastline.
Mr. Hargens asked for more detail on the Squantum Point Park project. Mr. Mooney responded that the
facilities were not being used so they could be modified for public use. Among other things, the project
would connect with other boardwalks and other facilities in the area. The project is designed and
permitted but is still looking for construction funding and is being considered as a potential application
for TIGER funding.
CTPS Technical Services Scope of Work
Mr. Nelson, MassDOT, updated the group with the current status of the Technical Services Scope of
work with the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) on behalf of the Ferry Compact. He said that
CTPS is begun work on the inventory of schedules and vessel types, and will also look at existing
operating agreements, which could impact potential funding eligibility.
Other Business
Mr. Bench, MassDOT, notified the group that a letter was drafted on behalf of the Ferry Compact to the
Joint Committee on Transportation in support of increased funding and investment in ferry
transportation. The letter will be made available to the Compact.
It was determined that the next meeting of the Ferry Compact would tentatively be on June 26 at a
location and time to be determined.
The meeting concluded at 12:00 PM.
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning
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May 1, 2013