The Patriot boat line has cut its shuttle schedule in half in response to the recently-enacted construction bans on the Island, reducing its daily routes from eight to four.

The boat provides regularly-scheduled shuttle runs for passengers and freight between Falmouth and Oak Bluffs. The new schedule went into effect this week, owner Jim Tietje said.

“We’ve changed our schedule because of the construction shutdown,” Mr. Tietje said.

The shuttle will run its regular 4 a.m. newspaper route to the Island, as well as its 6 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 2 o’clock routes from Falmouth. Mr. Tietje said that the boat would generally wait until about 3:30 p.m. to make its final trip back from Oak Bluffs to the mainland.

The 7:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 3:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. routes from Falmouth have been temporarily eliminated.

The Patriot line brings newspapers, baked goods, auto parts and other small freight to the Island from Cape Cod. While those essential runs will remain, Mr. Tietje said that the construction shutdown had impacted shuttle ridership. Work crews often use the line to commute to the Island.

“It’s dropping,” Mr. Tietje said of ridership. “I think everyone is going to get the message for the time being.”