The following letter was sent to the Steamship Authority:
I appreciate the chance to provide comment. For many years I used to attend the SSA meetings on a regular basis and have long felt that transportation issues are some of the most pressing facing the Islands. Previous commitments as well as age and arthritis prevent me from attending today, and I have asked Catherine Bumpus to hand you this communication as well as read it into the record.
Boat line governors addressed a petition protesting fare increases at their regular meeting in Woods Hole on Tuesday, but took no action to roll back hikes. Public testimony addressed perceived problems, but also was peppered with praise for the SSA.
Boat line governors meet in Woods Hole on Tuesday morning. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Marine Biological Laboratory Candle House, 127 Water street. The SSA waives the cost of travel for Island residents attending meetings on the Cape.
Marc Hanover this week strongly refuted an online petition that has been circulating over rate increases that took effect early this month. As of Thursday, 2,846 people had signed the petition posted on MoveOn.org.
Catherine N. Norton died Dec. 22 at the age of 73 after battling cancer. She had been the Falmouth boat line governor for about a year and had previously worked at the Marine Biological Laboratories.
Islanders are speaking out against a set of rate hikes which take effect this week at the Steamship Authority. An online petition had collected almost 2,400 signatures by Thursday morning.
Conrad Shipyard will build the ferry in Morgan City, La. The steel ferry, which has already been named Woods Hole, is being called a super freight boat, with a capacity for 384 people and 55 vehicles.
Donated to the Steamship Authority by Bill and Sue Ewen of Oak Bluffs, the whistle comes from the ferry Brinckerhoff, a sidewheeler built in 1899 to serve on the Hudson River.
The Steamship Authority said they anticipate ferry service disruptions Wednesday because of the weather; a high wind advisory is in effect from 2 p.m. Wednesday until 3 a.m. Thursday. Extra ferry service was added Tuesday for the Martha's Vineyard route.
So the ferry rates are being raised. That is an accepted fact of life on the Vineyard and one of the increased expenses we pay for the lifeline to our beloved Island home (the Vineyard, not the vessel, per se).
