The Steamship Authority is coming to Vineyard Haven Monday for a help session to answer questions from Islanders about their SSA profiles or the preferred excursion program.

Profile numbers that end in an odd number expire at the end of this month, and anyone who has questions about renewing or enrolling in either the Islander Preferred or Islander Preferred Excursion programs is encouraged to attend the help session.

The session is scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 16 at the Vineyard Haven Public Library.

Boat line reservations staff will be on hand to assist in filling out profile applications and answer questions about the benefits of the excursion profiles, as well as accept completed profile renewals.  

The SSA is also poised to renew its agreement with the Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority (VTA) for shuttle bus service between the Vineyard Haven ferry terminal and Tisbury park and ride lot off State Road.

Free to ride, the shuttles carry hundreds of passengers a day year-round. According to a draft report from the SSA, monthly ridership in 2019 began at 6,896, or about 222 passengers a day, in January and peaked in August with 13,078 riders, or about 422 a day.

More people take the shuttles outbound from the Steamship Authority than inbound from the parking lot, according to the report, which covers the period from January, 2017 to October, 2019.

An average of about 54 per cent of all shuttle passengers are riding away from downtown, either to the parking lot or to an intermediate destination along State Road.

The boat line pays the VTA 50 per cent of the cost to operate the shuttles, which are maintained, fueled and staffed by the transit authority.

The Steamship Authority also reimburses the VTA for 50 per cent of the fuel — initially diesel, but now electric — used in the shuttle operation.

Along with the reimbursements, the transit authority charges the SSA $200 month for its share of maintenance, insurance and painting costs.

Management is recommending that the boat line board of governors renew the VTA contract, which expires Dec. 31, for another three years.

The board meets Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m. on the second floor of the Steamship Authority’s Hyannis terminal.