News that the Steamship Authority carried a record number of vehicles may be welcome news to management but not to everyone else.
The front-page news that the Steam ship Authority carried a record number of vehicles to and from the Island during this summer season, for the third year in a row, may have been welcomed by the authority’s management and board of governors with finances on their collective mind. But to those of us who have to live with the consequences of that record number of vehicles it is no cause for jubilation and exaltation.
Observations every year by Vineyarders that the summer traffic on our roads and in our towns seems to have gotten worse are obviously right on target, as the helpful graph in the article illustrates. Numbers aside, year-round residents can all testify to how much longer travel time is for medical and other appointments down-Island in the summer, and to never knowing how long a routine trip anywhere is going to take. Or the difficulties finding a parking space when you get, finally, where you’re going.
The farmers’ market and other events in West Tisbury on Saturday mornings routinely back up traffic on the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road for over a mile. The Triangle in Edgartown has become a nightmare with similar backups. Five Corners on the Beach Road backs up traffic over the Lagoon bridge to the hospital. Barnes Road at the juncture with the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road, even with the new turning lane, backs up to the furthest entrance to the Airport business park. Vineyarders and visitors alike don’t appreciate these daily summer ordeals.
Aside from the inconvenience and aggravation, the public safety implications of these traffic jams are dire. First responders (fire, police and ambulance) have to navigate through them on two-lane roads in emergency situations to the detriment of all concerned. Clearly, something has gone awry.
The numbers tell the story. Using the 25-year long graph in the article, the approximate average growth rate for the seasons from 1993 through 2014 was 1.4 per cent per year. That’s an almost 30 per cent cumulative increase. Alarmingly, from 2014 to 2018 the growth rate has been an average of 2.9 per cent per year, over twice as fast. That’s just under another 12 per cent in just four years. That should get everyone’s attention.
And it isn’t as if all six towns, in rare unanimity, didn’t recognize the growing problem long ago. As your article says, in 1997 all six in nonbinding referendums asked the Steamship Authority to freeze vehicle capacity at the 1995 level. So how is it that this past summer season the SSA carried approximately 50,000(!) total more vehicles than in 1995? Obviously, the towns’ expressed wishes didn’t carry much weight with the SSA. It’s fair to ask why not?
The SSA says it has only been responding to demand, but now won’t increase vehicle capacity next year. Whew! That’s a relief. So, what we experienced this past summer is what we can look forward to next year. And for how much longer? What about the year after that, and the five years after that? Will the next new ferry also carry more vehicles than the vessel it replaced? Will more trips slowly creep into the schedule again, as they have over the past few years? Will demand be the only consideration in this complex equation? Is there not such a concept as enough? Lots of us have definitely had enough.
The solution is obvious: Fewer cars equals less road congestion and hazard. Figure out a way to reduce the annual invasion of vehicles without discouraging visitors. Not easy, I realize, but absolutely necessary nonetheless.
The character and culture of the Island attracts our many summer visitors precisely because the Vineyard is still not like everywhere else, despite all the changes over the past 40 years. But it is getting closer. To the extent that we keep it different we will continue to be an attractive destination. To the extent we don’t, if we continue to become like everywhere else, why should anyone put up with the hassle and expense of the ferry only to get stuck in traffic jams and crowds, among other things, like they can on the mainland?
So to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, which is charged with preserving our character and culture, I say what are you doing about the traffic problem before we reach gridlock all over the Island?
Richard Knabel lives in West Tisbury and is a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission.
Comments
As my kids have grown up and
Kelly Martha’s VineyardAs my kids have grown up and started driving and working and attending college off island, our family has needed more space on the ferries. Add to this the reduction of affordable services and products available on the island my hubby and I are needing to go off more. I hope the SSA doesn’t make it more difficult for us to continue to live here. It would be interesting to learn how much of the increase is originating off island as well as what percentage is commuters who work on island, providing needed services, and what percentage is vacationers bringing more cars. Also not addressed is the increase in car size. I remember a time when a 4 door car was a family vehicle. Now it seems a massive SUV that is longer than a hearse is needed to transport a single child car seat and occupant. Considering the environmental cost of these truck-like cars, maybe the SSA might want to significantly increase the surcharge for oversized vehicles originating in Woods Hole as a deterrent to using up excessive space.
The increase in car size in
A. Bowdoin Van Riper Vineyard HavenThe increase in car size in recent decades may very well be real . . . but if so it's an increase in volume (brought about by the popularity of vehicles with higher ground clearance and higher, boxier bodies). Car length has actually decreased noticeably since the "land yacht" era of the mid-60s to mid-80s. The SSA's "too long, pay more" surcharge kicks in at 17 feet (204 inches). A spot-check of current models suggests that very minivan, full-size sedan, and mid-size SUV now in production is under that . . . as are a few full-size SUVs. The full-size SUVs that exceed it do so, generally by less than 2 inches. A 1969 Olds Vista Cruiser 4-door wagon, on the other hand, clocked In at over 18 feet, and a 1976 Chrysler Town & Country wagon was 8/10 of an inch shy of 19 feet.
I also remember a time when
gina Menemsha/nycI also remember a time when all the pick up trucks were only 2 doors not the standard 4 door models driven Island wide.. I think as the year round Island population increases steadily , much of the summer grid lock is caused by Islanders going to & from daily chores.. So it would be interesting for the SSA to break out how much the auto increase is based on Island originated ferry trips (using the Islander preferred rate of course) vs. full fare auto fares originating in WH, if possible.. You might be surprised how much Island based trips have increased since that 1995 cap.. Demand usually rules .scheduling.. .
After many years of Island
Henry Casas New Milford, CtAfter many years of Island hoping we never brought a car, folding bikes or plain walking, whether via Ferry or later flying our own magic carpet, now nearing 80, we are building our own magic carpet hoping to be back, still no car!
One factor in the choice to
Lisa Stout Vineyard HavenOne factor in the choice to bring or not bring a car is the high price of parking in Falmouth. Parking for a week equals the price of a ferry ticket, and bringing a car is more convenient, so the choice is obvious. The Authority should make it more appealing to leave the car behind.
Good point!
R Scott Patterson EdgartownGood point!
It is a good point but doesn
ECS Edgartown / FLLIt is a good point but doesn't but is only one small step toward a solution.
I agree. It is inconvenient
MarieI agree. It is inconvenient and expensive to leave a car in Falmouth. If parking were a lot cheaper I would consider leaving my car behind. Right now there is no incentive to do this.
As a kid I grew up in Newport
David Oak Bluffs and EdgartownAs a kid I grew up in Newport, RI and saw the ‘island’ transition from a lazy Navy town to the tourist logjam it is today after the state decided to get rid of the self regulating ferry service and built a bridge. Newport in the summer morphed into a trafficed visitor community that few locals venture into during the summer. We relished the Fall when life became bearable once more. I see a similar phenomenon on our MV. On the one hand businesses on MV benefit from the increasing crowds during the summer while locals do their best to avoid downtown Edgartown or OB. It seems to me that it would serve the SSA well to hold a series of community listening sessions around the island and gather the opinions of the folks who live here. Listen to the business community, the daily commuters , and just plain local folks who moved to the island and bought homes hoping for that ‘quality of life’ we all want. Its a tricky balance but starting a dialogue with the residents of MV might be a good first step.
All the more reason to
Jesse Dennerlein ClearwaterAll the more reason to support two wheeled transportation on the island or all kinds, bikes, scooters and motorcycles.
Time to limit the amount of
dan oak bluffsTime to limit the amount of vehicles on island, just like some of the Caribbean islands, which would in turn boost local bus, taxi and uber industries. Sounds like an MVC project.
This is the ONLY solution.
ECS ECS/FLLThis is the ONLY solution. How to do it is the question but studying the 'Caribbean' plan[s] would be a start.
We have decided to no longer
Bob EdgartownWe have decided to no longer rent our home. This reduced six people per week and usually 2 cars. That's what we can do. I wish others would consider the same.
Its not the size of the
ECS Edgartown / FLLIts not the size of the vehicle, its the number.
About ten years ago when I asked my brother why they were building their house on the Cape instead of the Vineyard, his immediate response was 'too much traffic'.
I am frustrated with, among other things, the traffic to the point of saying 'Why am I doing this?' The farmers market is not fun during the season, too much traffic to get there, too many people when you do arrive, Menemsha and the Aquinnah, the same.
I have commented about growth studies done over the year to which the pathetic lack of leadership exhibited by the various towns' selectmen have responded with a large yawn and more building permits and along with the Trustees have worked to make the Island ever more of a New England Conie Island. It is, after all, all about the money which will destroy the Vineyard.
Kelly, its an ISLAND and never has had all the services of the mainland. As such this is not a suitable place for everyone, every family. Any family that has children is not facing reality if they expect that any of their children much less all of them will be able to make any kind of a living much less a good living in a low end service driven economy that effectively produces nothing.
The world's commercial fishing industry is on a respirator and has been increasingly so for decades. As a result on the Island the summer resort segment has become and even bigger portion of the economy. Now the year round retirement community is growing and will continue to grow which suggests some increased demand for doctors and attorneys/estate planners [many of whom commute to the island and add to that SSA traffic]. [I'd be careful about becoming a Dr. as this industry is one of the most inefficient in the world and is in the early stages of major disruption; and there are way too many lawyers compared to most other developed countries; unless one is in the top of their class at a good school either of these professions will be problematic.]
This scenario doesn't describe much life time opportunity to me. If I were kid and wanted to make a decent living, I wouldn't even consider a career on the Vineyard but I'd be glad to have parents I could visit.
I realize this suggestion is
Lynnea Brodeur North Palm BeachI realize this suggestion is one that residents oppose as it is not a part of the island culture, but in the summertime with all of the traffic back ups, I feel stop lights are the answer. They could be turned on yellow for "caution" during off season.
Agree 100%, too many cars in
R Scott Patterson EdgartownAgree 100%, too many cars in July/August. Something needs to be done to limit vehicles.
Build a bridge, limit the
Problem Solved West TisburyBuild a bridge, limit the cars on the island like they do for 4 Wheeling at Katama, Long Point etc etc.
The sign at the bridge in Woods Hole ==>> "The island is full please try coming back tomorrow"!
(On another note, who would listen to wash-a-shore after his ranting and raving against the Round-a-bout which became a absolute success in every way? Not me!)
If you want to limit the
Jay Lagemann ChilmarkIf you want to limit the number of cars on Island then limit the maximum number of cars on island.
What is important is NOT the number of cars carried back and forth on the Ferries. What causes congestion on our roads is the number of cars ON the island. The Steamship Authority needs to start telling us not just how many cars take a ride on the ferries, but how many are going in each direction.
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