The epic traffic jams that clogged the Island after the Lagoon Pond drawbridge malfunctioned on Tuesday were just one more reminder — as if we needed one — that we have too many cars on the Island and too many people rushing around to work, to buy groceries, to hit the beach, or to race over to what feels like an endless array of events.
Enduring bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Island’s congested roads is of course a common occurrence during the tourism season, when the population balloons tenfold. But there are several critical public transportation systems that we all need to commit to using more if we want to reduce the level of congestion.
There are all kinds of options, but one that is less often spoken of but crucial for many, is the free bus rides offered through the Vineyard Transit Authority. Yes, in case you forgot, the buses on our Island are free.
Islanders, and even some commuters from the mainland, rely on the VTA daily to get to work. Whether coming from home on the Vineyard, the ferry, or early in the morning after taking refuge at a homeless shelter offered by Harbor Homes, it is unquestionably the most affordable way to get around the Island for those without a car or physically incapable of riding a bicycle. You can’t beat the price of free, right? But access to this public transportation is now under threat as a possible bus driver strike looms.
Last week, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1548 announced that its members had voted to hold a strike if a satisfactory contract isn’t reached with Transit Connection, the company contracted to hire, train, and schedule vehicle operators and staff for the VTA. While there are other snags, like holidays, the main issue holding up negotiations is the question of fair pay. From what we’ve heard so far, the union is asking for a 6 percent annual raise for the next three years. The counteroffer, so far, was a 3.5 percent annual raise during the same period.
And the clock is ticking. Charles Ryan, the union president, states that if a resolution isn’t reached by July 31, when the current contract expires, drivers will be freed from the restriction that prohibits walkouts or strikes.
We back the investment in drivers. After all, good wages attract good candidates. But we’re calling on both parties to avoid a situation in which one of the Island’s most critical transportation systems is disrupted.
If negotiations stall to the point a strike hits, people without cars will be forced to find alternate travel methods, likely costing them money on an already expensive Island. It’d also halt the free bus rides, made free through state subsidies.
And the drivers’ contract negotiations are coming to a head as we’re about to enter August, traditionally the zenith of activity on the Vineyard. The last time bus drivers went on strike was in 2019. While they ultimately got the pay raise they were looking for, the picketing lasted a month.
Islanders can also look to a more recent example of how strained contract negotiations impacted travel at another transportation service. Last year, the Steamship Authority signed a contract with the unions representing its crewmembers after fraught negotiations over work schedules. And while Steamship captains who spoke with The Times denied the existence of a strike against overtime, as first reported by the Nantucket Current in 2024, there was a notably steep decline in cancellations related to crew shortages after the contract was signed.
The countdown to July 31 continues, and it’d benefit everyone for cool heads to prevail and keep the buses rolling. We believe the drivers deserve a fair wage, and Islanders deserve a robust and functioning public transportation system.
