Steamship Authority senior managers said this week they will consider eliminating the 5:30 a.m. freight run from Woods Hole to the Vineyard in the winter and shoulder seasons. The early morning route has been the subject of complaints from Falmouth residents concerned about traffic on the Woods Hole Road.

“We believe there is a possibility that we will not have to have a 5:30 a.m. freight boat from Woods Hole, during the winter,” SSA general counsel Steven Sayers said during the monthly boat line meeting held in Vineyard Haven Tuesday morning. “During the spring schedule, we believe that the freight boat can be berthed in Vineyard Haven, so that it allows Island residents to get off the Island at 5:30 a.m. in the morning,” he said.

Mr. Sayers was less optimistic about eliminating the early freight boat in the busy summer months.

“We’re having more difficulty trying to move the 5:30 a.m. freight boat during the summer operating schedule” he said. “During the summer . . . . there is a need to berth a freight boat on both sides. If we delay that freight boat trip [from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven] any later, we are concerned the impact it’s going to have on traffic, both in Woods Hole, Falmouth, and Vineyard Haven. We’re still looking at that, we’re keeping an open mind, we’re going through all the options.”

A public hearing held in Falmouth last month drew a large crowd of Falmouth and Woods Hole residents clamoring for the elimination of the early freight run. A petition has been formally filed with the SSA requesting the change. But Vineyard freight haulers fear eliminating the route will delay food and other deliveries, while increasing truck congestion during midday hours.

SSA general manager Bob Davis officially takes the helm. — Mark Lovewell

Reflecting those concerns Tuesday morning, Vineyard SSA governor Marc Hanover said: “You’re going to have some very upset truckers if you eliminate that summer 5:30 a.m. route.”

Meanwhile, the boat line is again studying the feasibility of running freight to the Vineyard from New Bedford to ease truck traffic in Woods Hole. SSA general manager Bob Davis said a consultant is currently evaluating the New Bedford State Pier and other locations on that city’s waterfront, and polling current freight haulers to gauge demand. He said the consultant’s report will not likely be complete for several more months.

Mr. Davis, formerly the Steamship Authority treasurer, was presiding over his first meeting as general manager following the retirement last month of long serving general manager Wayne Lamson.

In other business, the boat line released a draft 2018 summer operating schedule.

Under the proposed schedule, the frequency of trips and ferries assigned to various routes would be mostly the same, but the length of the summer operating schedule would expand by nearly two weeks.

The summer schedule would begin on May 11, five days earlier than this year, and end on Oct. 22, seven days later.

That prompted criticism from a Vineyard Haven businessman who said the schedule would adversely affect Tisbury businesses by extending the season for the summer port in Oak Bluffs.

“You’re taking five more days out of Tisbury,” said Bob Breth. “That makes no sense to anyone in Vineyard Haven. It can be evened up for both towns. It just feels like Tisbury is always getting the shaft.”

Tisbury selectman Melinda Loberg noted that when the Oak Bluffs terminal opens for the summer, more ferries carrying passengers use that port, while Vineyard Haven handles more freight boats.

“Oak Bluffs exceeds Vineyard Haven in passengers by 2,000 passengers a day,” Mrs. Loberg said. “In the middle of the day, most passengers end up in Oak Bluffs.”

A vote on the summer schedule is expected at next month’s board meeting.

In an update, Mr. Davis said construction of the new administration office building at the Palmer parking facility is on schedule, and the temporary terminal in Woods Hole is all but complete.

“We have by and large completed the building,” Mr. Davis said. “We will be transitioning there by sometime in October.”

The two projects are part of a $60 million overhaul of SSA port facilities and infrastructure in Woods Hole, which includes refurbishment of the three ferry slips, parking lots and a new terminal building.

Construction on the project is slated to begin in late fall.