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MBTA Commuter Boat Information Page
Representative Bradley has prepared this web page to keep residents informed of efforts to preserve the commuter boat service which serves the 3rd Plymouth District.
Sign up for the MBTA T-Alert system to be notified when a commuter boat is running late.
Beacon Hill Update: Commuter Boat added to MBTA Service Plan
Over the years I have heard from countless constituents regarding their fears that the Hingham and Hull commuter boat service will be eliminated, and their concerns with the MBTA’s failure to notify the public when they are considering boat scheduling changes and ticket price increases.
In an effort to ensure that commuter boat riders are provided an opportunity to voice their opinions in response to proposed changes in boat scheduling, ticket, or parking rate increases, I re-filed legislation which would require the MBTA to hold public hearings when proposing any changes.
In conjunction with the legislation, I began working with the Patrick Administration, MassDot and the MBTA to amend the MBTA Service Delivery Policy to include all commuter boat services. As a result, on June 2nd, the MBTA Board Directors voted to amend the Service Delivery Policy to include all of the MBTA's fixed-route modes. This will ensure that commuter boat riders are provided the same process to voice their concerns as all MBTA transit riders are given.
I would like to thank Governor Patrick, MassDot and the MBTA for working with me on this issue and for recognizing the number of South Shore residents who use commuter boat services. I appreciate the administration’s understanding of the importance of having a uniform service plan in place for all commuters.
As always, I appreciate your input on issues that are before the legislature. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or visit my website, www.garrettbradley.com. In addition to my State House office, my district office at the Sons of Italy Hall in Hingham, located at 88 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, will be staffed every Wednesday and Friday. If you need to set up an appointment or have any questions please call my State House office at 617.722.2520 Monday-Friday or my district office on Wednesdays and Fridays at 781.749.3331.
Representative Bradley’s Statement to the MBTA Board of Directors:
June 2, 2010
I would like to thank the MBTA’s Board of Directors for allowing me to offer you a statement today. I support and recommend to the Board that they adopt changes to the MBTA’s service plan to ensure that each transit service will have the same process in place in regards to changes in scheduling and services.
I represent the towns of Cohasset, Hingham, Hull and North Scituate. Many people throughout my district rely on the MBTA commuter boat to get to and from Boston each and every day. Changes in scheduling can have a drastic impact on the lives and livelihood of the commuters.
According to the latest figures, nearly 3,500 people use the ferries to get between Boston, Hingham, Quincy, and Hull. For over twenty years this service has been heavily relied upon by the residents of the entire South Shore. In fact, the Hingham Shipyard development came to fruition based on the fact that there would be commuter boat service at the shipyard.
In Hull, the commuter boat is the town’s only mode of transportation directly to Boston. I have heard from countless residents that one of the major factors that attracted them to move to Hull was the commuter boat.
This session, I re-filed a bill, House 3172, an act relative to changes of rates and scheduling changes by commuter boats that has advanced to Third Reading in the House. The legislation would mandate that any changes to commuter boat scheduling and rates would go through the public hearing process. I feel that it is necessary to have a system in place for the public to weigh in and a uniform process for all transit services - and if the Board votes in favor to the updated Service Plan Policy today, commuters throughout the MBTA’s service area will have an equal opportunity to be part of the process.
I applaud the MBTA and MassDOT for their commitment to the commuters and for recognizing the need to have a uniform system in place. I respectfully request that the MBTA Board of Directors vote in favor of adding all modes of transportation to its Service Plan. Finally, this would render moot the legislation currently pending.
10/3/09 Hingham Journal Article: Petition Seeks to Save Hingham Commuter Boats
Representative Bradley Calls on MBTA General Manager to Maintain Commuter Boat Service; urges residents to contact MBTA
With growing uncertainty about the future of the Hingham and Hull commuter boats, I recently sent a letter to the MBTA voicing my opposition to any stoppage or reduction of commuter boat service. The Hingham and Hull commuter boats are a heavily relied upon mode of transportation and to eliminate this service is unconscionable.
The MBTA estimates that over 3,500 people use the Hingham, Hull and Quincy commuter boats to commute to Boston every day. I feel that the $3.7 million subsidy from the MBTA for this service is an effective use of resources compared to the negative impacts which would arise if the commuter boat service was eliminated.
In Hingham, the Shipyard development came to fruition based on the fact that there would be commuter boat service at the shipyard. I feel that the elimination of service at the Hingham Shipyard would be devastating to the project which has already been hurt by the downturn of the global economy. In addition, I believe the MBTA is being shortsighted with their plans due to the fact that once this project is completed there will be many residents from the development who would use the boat to go to and from Boston every day. This will result in an increase in ridership which is not reflected in current use estimates.
If the Hull boat were eliminated, along with their bus service to Hingham, the residents would have no public transportation to get to and from Boston. It is clear that the commuter boat is the fastest and most efficient way for Hull residents to commute to Boston.
It is critical that the MBTA hear from local residents who oppose the elimination or reduction of commuter boat service. I urge you to send your comments to the MBTA to fareproposal@mbta.com. For more information on the dates and times of the MBTA’s proposal and to see the letter I sent to the MBTA, please go to my website, www.garrettbradley.com.
The preceding article was published in the Hingham Journal at the following web site address: http://www.wickedlocal.com/hingham/news/x737380120/BRADLEY-Commuter-boat-critical-to-Hingham-Shipyard
Commuter Boat Memo and Letter to MBTA General Manager (Adobe .pdf document)
Read the MBTA's proposed plan here. (requires free Acrobat Reader)
Send your comments electronically to fareproposal@mbta.com
or by mail to the following address:
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MBTA Ten Park Plaza Boston, MA 02116 Attn: Fare Proposal Committee |