The Steamship Authority is dropping its standby line in favor of expanding an Islanders-only standby while terminals in Woods Hole and Vineyard Haven undergo construction.
On Tuesday morning, the Steamship Authority board unanimously approved extending the availability of the Vineyarders-only Blue Line to be daily and year-round during a 90-day trial beginning on Jan. 4.
This means the regular standby line accessible to all, used frequently by visitors and Islanders, will be going away.
“So, Billy Joe from New York City who doesn’t live on the Island, has no reservation, they will not be able to sit on the property without anything,” Steamship Authority shoreside operations director Alison Fletcher said. “They would have to go somewhere and physically try to call reservations if they’re open, go to the ticket office, or go online to make a reservation if there’s anything available.”
The Blue Line is only for Islanders with preferred and excursion accounts. It used to be available just on reservation-only days, but will now be open seven days a week under the trial period.
According to Fletcher, upcoming redevelopment in Woods Hole and Vineyard Haven expected to increase wait times and congestion in the terminal areas during peak times.
The issues are more pronounced in Woods Hole, where the Steamship is undergoing a $32 million terminal reconstruction project, which is expected to take another two years to complete. Slip repairs are also planned in the Vineyard Haven terminal, which will temporarily cut the number of available slips to one during the upcoming winter months.
While a rolling limit of 12 cars is the baseline for the Blue Line, Fletcher said more vehicles may be served depending on space availability under the 90-day trial period. Additionally, Fletcher said this would make sure vessel space opens up in the reservation system for another customer if an Islander is able to board on an earlier boat.
Falmouth board representative Peter Jeffrey said while the idea may encourage people to make reservations in advance, it may incentivize them to keep circling the area until they can get a spot.
Martha’s Vineyard board representative Jim Malkin emphasized a need to educate Vineyard customers about the Blue Line and encourage them to make reservations in advance. But he said cutting out the standby line could provide safety while construction is ongoing.
“I’m concerned about congestion in both places. I’m concerned about the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists,” he said. “This seems to be the way to deal with it.”
Malkin emphasized to The Times that the Steamship Authority also has a waitlist system for reservations, and people will need to plan ahead to make their reservations. He also pointed out that Islanders who join the Blue Line will not need to give up their original reservation, as in the past.
He underscored that the system would make it so there is space available for Islanders. “There’s always competition for space on the prime trips,” Malkin said.
Hyannis board representative Robert Jones was in favor of encouraging a reservation-only system.“Without it, everybody is pedal to the metal trying to get in line,” he said.
Meanwhile, the board unanimously approved a $150.7 million operational budget for fiscal year 2025.
The board also voted 3–1 to approve fare increases, excluding the excursion rate, meant to help shore up increases in various parts of the budget. Jeffrey was the sole dissenting vote, saying one fare type shouldn’t be excluded from the rate increase.
We need a new board and Davis needs to be gone yesterday! This is ridiculous.
We have been saying that about the Board and the GM for decades.
No “We” haven’t, perhaps you were whining about Wayne Lamson but I certainly wasn’t. SSA worked great back then, all today’s problems are the direct result of Bob Davis’ horrible decision making and those that enable him. Nothing will improve until Davis is completely out of the picture.
Wayne had many complaints about how bad he ran the SSA.
Who hired Davis?
Have they been fired?
Terrible headline. “steamship approves Islanders-only standby“ would be far more accurate.
If there’s no room for standby at the terminal, why not offer “standby” at an off-terminal location (Palmer Ave parking lot?) and send a certain number of numbered cars (10?) down to the terminal at a time as ferry space permits? Otherwise you’re going to have tons of cars circling around Woods Hole or people trying to park in limited spaces who then sit there and try to make a reservation in person or via phone. What a mess for Woods Hole!
Maybe you could try 1st come 1st serve.
Except for food and necessities (+hazzard), those should have a reservation.
Perfect for planning purposes.
Why doesn’t the Steamship Authority repurpose the large employee parking area in Woods Hole next to the slip and the Parking Spaces next to the checkin booth in VH to loading spaces that could support additional standby cars? Before and after shifts, employees could easily take Steamship or Park&Ride transportation to the respective parking lots.
During their 8+n hour shifts, many, many stand by cars, who happen to be customers could be supported with little inconvenience to the employees.
“Billy Joe” ???
So family members, including college kids and also our sons and daughters with our grandchildren who do not live here year round do not stand a chance of hopping over for a spontaneous visit even though they are willing to wait it out. And our parents and our grandparents. You are telling people that do have residency here they don’t stand a chance in hell of getting over without a reservation of which your system cannot handle?? Just unpack the kids and all the luggage after long days of travel and pay us your money to park your car in our parking lot. WTH??
Yep and to add insult to injury you get double charged at the Palmer lot because of the absurd “calendar day” system. You park for the 6:15 pmk boat and are back on the 8 am the next morning, you’ve been parked less than 24 hours but get to pay for 2 whole days! Just a blatant rip off.
Calendar day is the standard in the industry, except where it is by the hour.
Why should the SSA be any different?
Should boat fares be increased to cover the shortfall.
So you call to get on the boat that they say it’s booked up . when boat are empty.what is this going to do to company coming to work on island.
SSA, seriously, do you ever think your plans through before you foist them on your public? Has anyone there ever seen another ferry company in operation? Like the one in North Carolina that ferries cars and people *for free* when they show up, to barrier islands? No rez required. 45 minutes to Ocracoke just like us.
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