SSA renews park and ride agreement with Tisbury

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The boatline has provided porta-potties while it renovates the Vineyard Haven terminal restrooms. — Photo by Ralph Stewart

The Steamship Authority members met Tuesday, December 18, and approved a management recommendation to renew the boatline’s agreement with Tisbury and the Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority (VTA), under which the line will continue to provide shuttle service between the Tisbury Park ‘n Ride parking lot and the SSA’s Vineyard Haven terminal in 2013.

The VTA shuttle van leaves the parking lot 15 minutes before each vessel’s scheduled departure and meets each vessel’s scheduled arrival, according to a management summary of last week’s meeting. The SSA reimburses the VTA for 50 percent of the direct labor and fuel costs attributable to the service, plus $200 per month to cover maintenance, insurance, and other indirect costs.

The VTA reported that a total of 110,603 passengers used the Park ‘n Ride shuttle service during the 12-month period that ended October 31, 2012. The SSA contributed $73,427 towards the cost of the service under the terms of the agreement.

In other business, the board approved management’s recommendation to renew the SSA’s transportation agreement with the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School District for school-related, approved transportation for the period from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014. The agreement covers the transportation of student groups, teachers, administrators, and game officials on school-approved travel for the district’s 2014 fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2013. The fixed price is intended to reflect approximately a 50 percent discount.

The cost will remain $60,000, the same price as the last two years.

The board also authorized general manager Wayne Lamson to move forward with the demolition of the old Falmouth ice rink. The SSA bought the ice rink property from the Falmouth Youth Hockey League in 2011 and will use the land to create more parking at the SSA’s Palmer Avenue lot.