<p>The Steamship Authority will close its reservation counter at the airport this fall and move the operation to its Vineyard Haven terminal.</p>
The Steamship Authority will close its reservation counter at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport this fall and move the operation to its Vineyard Haven terminal.
Vineyard SSA governor Marc Hanover said this week that with increasing numbers of customers booking online, it is no longer cost effective to rent airport counter space.
“We voted to close the airport office,” Mr. Hanover told the Dukes County commission Wednesday, one day after the SSA monthly meeting was held on Nantucket. “In its heyday, it was handling 32,000 walkups,” he said of the reservation office. “Last year, it was 12,000. Over 50 per cent of all reservations are now made online.”
The two reservation clerks currently working at the airport will use upstairs space in Vineyard Haven terminal, which is no longer being used as crew quarters. A clerk will also be stationed in Oak Bluffs when that terminal is open.
“No jobs are going to be lost,” Mr. Hanover said. “They will be doing the same jobs out of the Vineyard Haven office. It makes no sense to continue [at the airport].”
The change is scheduled to take effect Dec. 1, when the SSA’s lease at the airport expires.
Mr. Hanover also told county commissioners the boat line no longer wants to lease a five-acre parcel at the airport business park. The SSA had been renting the parcel for $35,000 per year. Expanding the Island reservation facility or staging standby vehicles were both under consideration at one point as possible uses for the property.
“The authority has no interest in it any longer,” Mr. Hanover said.
He also said the boat line had received a substantial grant to enhance security at terminals and aboard the vessels.
“Some of it you will see, some of it you will not,” he said.
He said the authority is assessing whether to train and equip its personnel with nalaxone, often known by its brand name Narcan, used to reverse the effect of an opioid overdose. He said there has already been one overdose aboard a Steamship Authority shuttle bus this year. The driver, who was not equipped with nalaxone, drove directly to the Falmouth Hospital where the victim was treated.
Comments
Nice to see a public agency
Paul Hannigan EdgartownNice to see a public agency looking at the numbers and cutting back where obvious savings can be realized.
And the Narcan training would be another positive step forward.
Perhaps they could move some
Ken Esq EdgartownPerhaps they could move some of the other functions like Island Resident renewal online as well.
Good to hear. They should
Kh EdgartownGood to hear. They should change the employees too. Every time I went there the notion of customer service was severely lacking.
I completely disagree with
Peter Oak BluffsI completely disagree with your assessment of the women that work up at the airport office. I go there quite often for pickup truck reservations(can't seem to make those on line) and they are more than accommodating and pleasant to work with.
Too bad that the airport
islander WTToo bad that the airport reservation facility will move into the chaotic traffic situation (particularly in summer) that clogs up Vineyard Haven. I don't want to use the "on line" feature (believe it or not some folks still don't "do computers!") because the Airport facility was so handy. And I always found the staff to be both professional and very helpful. Unfortunately many of the traveling public have forgotten their manners.
It would be nice if the islander reservation policies were truly for islanders and not high jacked (like so much else) by those who sign up even though their main home is Cambridge, or Connecticut, or even California. Once their name is on the street list they avail themselves of the perks that were designed to make it possible for islanders to continue to live here.
Forgive me but his is a
Steve C VHForgive me but his is a wonderful example of the kind of dribble that we "interlopers" find so offensive. As a seasonal resident, which is exactly the group you harangue, my contributions help make possible many things for those who benefit 365 days a year, including the schools your kids and grandkids enjoy. While you can turn back the clock, I believe that most year round residents realize the benefits that come with full time financial contributions with very limited demand for service. It's fully a symbiotic relationship.
Totally agree, Steve C.
KH EdgartownTotally agree, Steve C.
Right on...
Jack M HopedaleRight on...
Why not close the Mashpee
David Cartier EdgartownWhy not close the Mashpee office instead? The primary customer base is here on MV. More jobs leaving MV. The airport office is convenient for the up-island customers and away from the traffic. The more decisions that come from SSA upper management, the more apparent it appears that a complete turnover needs to occur. Serving the people who live are on the island are their priority.
The article said no one is
EB VHThe article said no one is losing their job. (No jobs leaving MV) They are just moving offices.
This is a very thoughtless
Katy upson W.tisburyThis is a very thoughtless decision. Let's not make it any harder for US to book tickets. Life here is hard enough!
Although I haven't had to use
Nancy-Alyce Abbott West TisburyAlthough I haven't had to use this office often, it has been a life saver when an unexpected health issue or family death
has occurred. The staff have always been extremely helpful and it is wonderful to be able to bypass the craziness of
5 corners/SSA office in V.H.
There isn't enough congestion
Susan ChilmarkThere isn't enough congestion at the VH SS terminal in the summer already?
I wish they not only moved
Annoyance Martha's VineyardI wish they not only moved the location, stopped paying for the county space but terminated the two employees that are not needed at the new location. What a waste of money. With online booking being 50 % with the move I expect to see that increase to over 60 percent within a year. Hope we see that reported soon after the move. The employees were not pleasant people, that location at the airport was difficult to hear with the acoustics in that building and the parking at the airport could be problematic. While 5 corners is difficult, let's face it, those of us that live up island and use the post office at 5 corners are there almost daily, so a trip to the ssa won't make much of a change. Good job on eliminating this location and do more, get rid of the 2 employees next.
Time to dismantle the SSA and
SullyTime to dismantle the SSA and open up the docks to private companies that will take care of islander needs as is the original mission statement
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