MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
FOR THE CREATION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS FERRY
TRANSPORTATION COMPACT
WHEREAS, the transportation of people, goods and vehicles by water
via ferries within the Commonwealth is a matter of critical importance to the
Commonwealth’s residents, visitors, and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the ferry transportation system is an important part of our
statewide transportation system; and
WHEREAS, ferry transportation helps support the tourism industry which
is a major economic driver of the Commonwealth’s economy; and
WHEREAS, ferry transportation service provides the only surface
transportation access for commuters, tourists, and the transport of goods
and services to and from the islands of Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket,
Cuttyhunk and certain Boston Harbor Islands; and
WHEREAS, the Ports of Boston, New Bedford, Salem, Winthrop, Hull,
Hingham, Lynn, Hyannis, Woods Hole, Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and
Nantucket are current and emerging centers of water-based passenger
and/or vehicle transportation in the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature has created state agencies and independent
authorities which, are charged with the responsibility to plan, design,
construct, operate, fund and maintain the ferry transportation infrastructure
facilities in the Commonwealth in partnership with designated seaport
communities; and
WHEREAS, the development of water ferry infrastructure assets and
services at the Commonwealth’s ports has an impact on both air and water
quality and our public health; and
WHEREAS, there is demand for water transportation services
necessitating increased investment of public funds to support operating and
capital expenses for existing and new ferry services throughout the
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, by working together cooperatively, the state's transportation
modal agencies, authorities, and ferry service communities seek to
establish a better coordinated and comprehensive system of water
transportation services serving the Commonwealth’s ferry passengers,
including commuters and tourists in a safe, secure, environmentally
sustainable, and efficient manner;
THEREFORE, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the
Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation, the Seaport Advisory
Council, the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamship
Authority, the Massachusetts Port Authority, the Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority, the Boston Harbor Association, the City of
Boston, the City of Lynn, the City of New Bedford, the City of Salem, the
Town of Hull, and the Town of Winthrop hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. There is hereby created the Massachusetts Ferry
Transportation Compact, to be chaired by the Secretary of Transportation,
and administratively supported by the Office of Transportation Planning
within the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and whose
membership shall consist of the signatories hereto as may be expanded as
needed upon consent of the signatories.
Section 2. The Compact’s principal mission shall be to identify an overall
vision for the ferry system in Massachusetts which improves the
transportation of people, goods and vehicles by water. The Compact will
develop and agree upon a series of goals and objectives to support this
overall vision which will be used to identify implementable policies and
improvements. Information needed to support the Compact’s principal
mission will be supplied by the staff of the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation’s Office of Transportation Planning through the publication
of technical reports as requested by the Compact.
Section 3. The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct regular
meetings of the chief executives or chairpersons, as appropriate, of each of
the members of the Compact. Not less than every six months, the
Compact, with the assistance from staff of the Massachusetts Department
of Transportation’s Office of Transportation Planning, shall prepare and
make available to the public a report summarizing its work.
Section 4. This Memorandum of Understanding shall take effect
immediately and shall continue in effect until amended, superseded, or
revoked by a subsequent Memorandum or Memoranda.
On this 8th day of November, 2012, the following persons hereby acknowledge the
institution of the Ports of Massachusetts Compact, and pledge the cooperation of themselves and
their respective entities in executing the above elements of this Memorandum of Understanding:
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION
MASSACHUSETTS BAY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
Richard A. Davey, Secretary & CEO
Jonathan Davis, Acting General Manager
MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL
COURT
BOSTON HARBOR ASSOCIATION
Senator Thomas M. McGee
Vivien Li, Director
CITY OF BOSTON
Representative William M. Straus
SEAPORT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Thomas M. Menino, Mayor
CITY OF LYNN
Louis Elisa, Executive Director
THE WOODS HOLE, MARTHA’S
VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET
STEAMSHIP AUTHORITY
Judith F. Kennedy, Mayor
CITY OF NEW BEDFORD
Wayne Lamson, General Manager
Jonathan F. Mitchell, Mayor
MASSACHUSETTS PORT
AUTHORITY
CITY OF SALEM
Thomas Glynn, CEO
Kimberley Driscoll, Mayor
TOWN OF HULL
Philip E. Lemnios, Town Manager
TOWN OF WINTHROP
James M. McKenna, Town Manager