$32 million SSA terminal construction moving forward 

The Steamship board voted to approve a contract with a developer for construction.

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The SSA has entered into a contract for a the reconstruction of the Woods Hole terminal. — MV Times

The Steamship Authority (SSA) board is pushing forward the next phase of the Woods Hole Terminal reconstruction project, and has agreed to enter into a contract for more than $32 million dollars with a contractor.

On Tuesday, the board tapped Colantonio Inc., a Holliston-based prequalified contractor, in a 3-0 vote.

SSA communications director Sean Driscoll told The Times the contract with Colantonio is for the construction of a two-story utility building and terminal building.

The project has been a long time coming, with a feasibility study first completed in 2014. After criticism from the public, designers in 2019 put forward new plans calling for a one-story building that they say preserves the view of the water from Woods Hole. 

The construction is being done in subphases, to allow the Steamship to continue operations.

In the same motion, board members also approved a new curb layout on the western side of the proposed building, to allow truck traffic to move more freely. The decision reduces the number of bus lanes at the terminal by one. Also with the motion, the building will have to be moved about 15 to 18 feet farther from the waterfront. 

While no board members voted against the decision, Falmouth representative Peter Jeffrey criticized the plans for not accommodating electric or hybrid-electric infrastructure.

Also on Tuesday, the board unanimously approved a $897,570 change order to BIA Studio, the Boston-based architectural studio that provided design work for the Woods Hole reconstruction project. The change order covers inspection and testing services.

According to SSA general manager Robert Davis, the amount the Steamship originally budgeted for the construction, including a 10 percent contingency, was about $38 million. 

The bid from Colantonio came between two cost estimates from BIA Studio, of $30.7 million and $41.7 million. J & J Contractors from North Billerica came in with a $34.9 million bid. According to Steamship records, the SSA had rejected a total bid price of $48.1 million from J & J Contractors that included sitework as a part of the project’s scope last August. The terminal’s sitework is planned to be a separate project. 

During a joint meeting between the board and the Port Council in January, SSA treasurer and comptroller Mark Rozum stated the total estimate the authority received — including construction for the Woods Hole ticket office, freight shed, a bike staging section, an area named Cahoon Park, and site work — would be $48 million. 

The first of three construction subphases is expected to take place in the fall and winter 2024 and 2025. It’s been estimated to cost $10.9 million.

Davis did have issues with the proposed traffic layout, pointing out that the wide turning radiuses of large trucks would be a concern. 

Steamship officials posed the new traffic layout option after meeting at the terminal earlier this week. While eliminating one of the current bus lanes and moving the proposed building closer to the bridge, the move would free up more space for trucks.

“We can move that portion of it because it’s not going to interfere with what’s already been performed,” he said, adding this would be a distance of around 15 feet. 

Hyannis board representative and chair Robert Jones and Martha’s Vineyard board representative Jim Malkin supported the idea. 

Jeffrey abstained from voting, and New Bedford board representative Moira Tierney was absent from the Tuesday morning meeting. 

Jeffrey explained that while he understands a “great deal of work” has gone into the project before he joined the board, he wished more time was spent relooking at the building design. 

“From 12 years ago, our operational needs have changed, and not just looking at aesthetics; this building is being built much later than we thought,” he said. “There’s nothing in these plans that go to address having to move forward to some type of hybridization, electrification at the terminal.” 

Jeffrey said while he will not get in the way of the project by voting against it, he did not want to endorse it as an individual. 

Jones made a point that the project was one of the most difficult deals the SSA had to undertake, and the public’s input was taken into account, although not all input could be executed, and compromises had to be made. Jones added that his philosophy regarding the construction was to build the terminal to last as long as necessary, and to beautify it even if it cost more. “After that building is up, they will never remember what you paid for, but if that building is a lovely building, you’ll live with it for 50 years,” he said. 

In other news, SSA officials went over the proposed 2025 ferry schedules. Martha’s Vineyard will see a couple of changes to its schedule with the launch of the new freight ferries Aquinnah and Barnstable, which is expected on April 6. 

A public hearing is anticipated for the proposed schedule, although Jeffrey requested more information before a decision was made, such as crew shortages canceling trips and how a proposed federal regulation meant to protect right whales would impact the SSA ferries, particularly the fast ferry Iyannough.

14 COMMENTS

  1. I hope I live long enough to see the result of a two-story building costing $48 million dollars although it seems like a long shot, given the time it’s taken to get to this point. Every contractor I know is probably lying on their back howling with laughter at this point.

  2. So say goodbye to the modest but highly serviceable, cost-effective, and non-controversial ‘temporary’ terminal that happens to have better bathrooms and a more approachable service counter area than what it replaced, IMHO. It’s appealing enough and unobtrusive to the point that it apparently passes muster with the architectural aesthetes of Woods Hole (for now). $48 million is a lot to shell out for a facility that as designed, ‘may’ be a nice building, but may not suffice if electric ferries come into service for the route. SSA could consider holding off a bit longer, keeping the current basic setup until they know exactly what any electrification ambitions would mean for infrastructure requirements on site.

    • It is a double -wide eyesore, Woods Hole is a charming seaside research community. Except for the horrid looking SSA buildings.
      The ferry slips are already provisioned with 480 volt 3 phase power. The cost to upgrade the power to accommodate electric ferries will be relative minor.
      I see no current planning for electric ferries. The SSA just bought two ferries, no serious. talk of electric. I am guessing it will be at least ten years before Woods Hole sees an electric ferry, your guess? Woods Hole is a decade plus overdue in removing it’s eyesores.

    • Exactly.
      Total waste of money.
      The SSA has not thought this through.
      Just as they failed to think through the pedestrian and vehicle access to and from the ferry slips and the ticket office.
      But wasting $48 mill won’t fix that, so just leave things as they are.
      Use some of the money for the comfort of waiting passengers outdoors in the summer.
      a small park with benches, plantings, and covered bike racks.

    • Probably to provide hotel type accommodations for ferry layover personnel for early morning shifts…………

      • That is standard practice in the airline industry.
        Where should on call personnel be accommodated?

  3. Complete waste of taxpayer dollars again by another organization that thinks the rate payers have unlimited funds. it seems no organization that has access to public. Money is satisfied with what they have, and always want the new shiny object no matter what the cost.

  4. This insane idea should have gone to an all island vote, after all it is Vineyarders that are paying for it. I can hear the children saying.
    Hey Grandpa, money really does grow on trees doesn’t it ?

    • Should this idea have gone to an all Falmouth vote? They pay for it by having that god awful looking “temporary” ticket office “double-wide” with “swamp coolers’ on the roof and neon Coke machines out front.
      The SSA was created and is owned by the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth issues the bonding.
      Should this idea have gone to an all Commonwealth vote.

  5. Interesting comments. Woods Hole doesn’t want it. Vineyarders don’t want it.
    Maybe you should talk to your appointed Governor.

  6. Woods Hole doesn’t want the SSA..
    Or there crappy looking “temporary” buildings.
    Woods is a research community.
    There is no benefit to ferry traffic.

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