The Steamship Authority’s 5:30 a.m. summer freight boat from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven continues to be a bone of contention in Falmouth, as evidenced by a public hearing Monday.
The Steamship Authority’s 5:30 a.m. summer freight boat from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven continues to be a bone of contention in Falmouth, as evidenced by a two-hour public hearing Monday on the boat line’s proposed 2022 operating schedules.
More than 90 people joined the Zoom meeting and nearly two dozen gave testimony, all but three of them Falmouth residents stiffly opposed to the early summer freight run.
“The Steamship Authority is proposing, for another year, to be abusive to the residents of Falmouth and Woods Hole,” said Nat Trumbull, who submitted a petition signed by more than 100 Falmouth residents that triggered Monday’s hearing.
“It’s impossible not to wake up when a heavily loaded truck 40 feet in length goes by at five in the morning or earlier,” Mr. Trumbull said. “You are depriving hundreds of town of Falmouth residents of sleep . . . This is a public health risk.”
The remarks were echoed by other speakers, many of whom read from prepared statements.
“It’s time for you to give us the respect that we deserve, and instead of just placating us, actually listen to us and act,” Woods Hole Film Festival executive director Judith Laster told SSA officials, including general manager Bob Davis, who were listening in on the webinar hearing.
“Every year, people say they don’t want to come to Woods Hole because of the traffic and the parking,” Ms. Laster said.
Several speakers said they support proposed legislation removing the weighted voting system that allows Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket to have a supermajority on the boat line governing board.
“It is time for the mainland communities to have a fairer share in determining their destinies, beginning with quality of life,” said Eugenie Kuffler of Woods Hole.
The Falmouth’s transportation management committee has suggested two alternatives to the 5:30 a.m. freight trip, Mr. Trumbull said: a mid-afternoon freight boat, or simply shifting the entire daily schedule one half-hour later.
SSA special counsel Steven Sayers, who moderated the meeting, said both alternatives would be studied before finalizing the 2022 schedules.
But Martha’s Vineyard Commission executive director Adam Turner said with plenty of summer traffic problems on the Vineyard side too, truckers delivering needed supplies must get to the Island early.
“We have huge traffic problems right after roughly 7 a.m.,” Mr. Turner said. “So to put this traffic on boats that go later . . . that makes no sense. They’re just going to be stuck.”
Early deliveries of perishables are also important to Island food businesses, including 99 restaurants, Mr. Turner said.
Falmouth resident Ralph Herbst rejected that argument.
“If they can’t store what they need . . . then they’re not ready to serve the public,” Mr. Herbst said of Island restaurants. “It’s crazy to think they can have fresh produce on a daily basis.”
Jonathan Goldman of Woods Hole said growth in the VIneyard population is the root problem.
“This growth is undeniable and, I fear, unsustainable,” he said.
Mr. Sayers said written public testimony can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Mr. Davis at the Steamship Authority, 228 Palmer avenue, Falmouth MA 02540.
Comments
Woods Hole deserves a
A good neighbor MVWoods Hole deserves a solution, it is not right to simply dismiss the concerns outright as Adam Turner did. I say this an (anonymous) Islander who understands the the line needs to be drawn and that our neighbors in Woods Hole - our neighbors, who allow their village to be the departure point to serve as our lifeline to our homes and our tourist economy - we are stepping all over the, and it’s plain wrong. Let’s come up with good solutions. There are many out there. This is not about earplugs, about “you bought a house on that road” (probably 50 years ago or even 25 or 20!) or “move if you don’t like it”. Put yourself in their shoes. We are good neighbors and we need to act like it. Otherwise, we have just become the problem amd right now our problems are big enough. Stop shitting them out and let’s find a solution that meets everyone’s needs. It’s not going to be easy. Let’s do the right thing - put yourself in their shoes and also discard the worn out arguments that get trotted out over and over. There are solutions.
I totally agree with you.
M West TisburyI totally agree with you.
The Village of Woods Hole
Maybe you should Oak BluffsThe Village of Woods Hole currently have residents that are beyond working with. A good neighbor, you should not comment if you were not on the call. It has nothing to do with putting yourself in their shoes but all about working with the Vineyard and not have veto power over our lifeline.
Woods Hole residents are seen problematic in their own large community, that being Falmouth. The Vineyard tries and tries yet Woods Hole keeps changing the goal posts.
I agree totally......The
Marie EdgartownI agree totally......The Island has to start thinking about preservation for themselves and it’s Wood’s Hole neighbors. Our infrastructure is suffering. Wish our leaders would stop the nonsense. Please find a solution for Wood’s Hole. How about larger lot sizes and a moratorium on building....Let’s preserve what we have before it’s to late.
The SSA does not care about
Bob EdgartownThe SSA does not care about the public if they did they would stop wasting money on a big new ferry terminal in Woods Hole. What we have now works and is all we need. Save all the rate payers some money and stop the waste of this unneeded building.
A: I will always take
JT MVA: I will always take residents into consideration on issues involving possible abuses that involve quality of life issues.
B: If you live on the single, winding, residential road leading to Woods Hole, 5am trucks driving past on the way to the 5:30 first boat of the day is not really an unreasonable hour. The world is bustling at 5am in many places.
C: Maybe a common ground could be to allow only a certain amount of trucks per day on the first ferry.
Both banning them completely and allowing as many as will fit sound equally unreasonable. Maybe work to spread them out through the day on a semi-regular schedule during the peak season, but Falmouth residents really can't expect to get their wish of no trucks on the early boat. Trucks are out early everywhere, not just Falmouth. That's how daily/weekly delivery works.
Remember when we were arguing
Steve Ewing EdgartownRemember when we were arguing against a second slip? Seems like a lifetime ago.
For those opposed to the
Chris HarwichFor those opposed to the truck traffic, stop buying ANYTHING!!
How do you think that stuff gets to the stores, gas stations, hardware stores and such ?
A truck brings it. SMDH !!
Maybe the folks in Falmouth
Mike MahoneyMaybe the folks in Falmouth should realize they are part of Massachusetts. They should also consider how many employees live in Falmouth...
SSA has been in operation
George Stein Oak BluffsSSA has been in operation longer than any property owner has been alive. Choosing to buy homes on access roads affected the value of the purchase price and will continue to do so. This was the decision made they must live with.
So true ! In addition Woods
John Cape CodSo true ! In addition Woods Hole isn't the only place on Earth that has early truck / car traffic. However I do support the banning of trucks using Jake brakes on Woods Hole road, as there is no need to use them in this area.
Woods Hole is a working
Josh OBWoods Hole is a working harbor. Working harbors work. Always has been. Trying to turn the SSA role there into the Island Queen is ridiculous.
When I’m in Cambridge a T bus
Ginny Edg/CambridgeWhen I’m in Cambridge a T bus roars by my house at 5:05 am 5 days a week. The tow lot a block away tows cars 24 hours a day (yes, BMW alarms go off when dropped by the tow hook just like they go off on the ferry). The major grocery chain up the street restocks their shelves overnight with all sorts of activity. I can’t change any of that. Woods Hole was never a quiet haven in the summers and now the folks that have moved in want to turn it into one. A lifeline is a lifeline. End of story.
The price of real estate is
here we go again edgThe price of real estate is reflected in its location. Being adjacent to what realtors call an 'attractive nuisance" reduces the prices with respect to 'comps' (comparable size lot and dwelling) That's why its cheaper next to a busy road, commercial area, school, airport, train, highway, etc. Having said that, there is no reason for a trucker to use a 'jake brake' (=noisy engine decompression device to slow down the truck) vs using their regular wheel air brakes. As the holder of a Class A CDL (commercial driver license with ALL endorsements=tanks-airbrakes-doubles-triples) there is NO NEED on that road to be using the jake brake as the hills are insignificant in size. It would be appropriate to post 'no jake brakes' or the Falmouth PD could see if their noise ordinance (if they have one) holds up in court. Drivers can and should be advised and voluntary compliance would be the preference.
And, longer range, the SSA
Sara Oak BluffsAnd, longer range, the SSA really should tell us why New Bedford, which would welcome the business, is not being considered as an alternative place to load trucks for the Island. I have seen studies claiming the additional price for freight is actually fairly minimal, and that New Bedford is a more convenient place to get to for most of the trucks.
Sara, they have. There are
Yes they should and they have Oak BluffsSara, they have. There are multiple reports that state the issues with New Bedford as a port to the Vineyard. Please ask the SSA for them, they'd be happy to supply them.
Running the boats to new
carbon neutral please mvyRunning the boats to new bedford would easily quadruple the carbon footprint of the diesel ferry boats. Notwithstanding the extra time, cost, and wear and tear on the boats.
What a non-issue! Wake up,
Brad ChappyWhat a non-issue! Wake up, Buttercup! Maybe the folks of Woods Hole should go to bed earlier.
THAT 530AM FERRY GETS ME TO
A SUMMER PERSON FROM KANSAS WEST TISBURY AND LEAWOOD, KSTHAT 530AM FERRY GETS ME TO CENTRAL OHIO BEFORE DARK
Who in their right mind and
Charlie Callahan So Boston/EdgartownWho in their right mind and can afford it would even consider buying a million dollar house anywhere near the ferry if the traffic and the noise bother them. This has been going on for 70 years .
If there's really that much
Not Quite a TouristIf there's really that much truck traffic that ridiculously early, then the folks in Woods Hole deserve some help. New Bedford's infrastructure is well equipped to handle freight traffic, bite the bullet and reroute freight ferries to New Bedford. It will be a hard adjustment, but it will work out. At the same time, give the folks both in Woods Hole and on the island some relief and reduce the total number of vehicles carried over the course of the summer. Martha's Vineyard has a crackerjack public transportation system compared to so many other parts of Massachusetts, encourage its greater use by discouraging vehicle trips.
I live on the Vineyard Haven
mushroommarlene 2 State RD.I live on the Vineyard Haven/Edgartown Rd and remember when there was no need for a 5:30 AM freight ferry giving opportunity for large tractor trailer trucks to barrel down the hill before daybreak, jake brakes included occasionally. It is VERY loud, it also affects all the Vineyard residents that live near the Vineyard Haven harbor egress too. Making it just a little later or in the afternoon would make a BIG difference, believe me~
My friends in New Orelans own
August West EdgartownMy friends in New Orelans own a bar and its been in their family for a hundred years. The couple who bought the house across the street have successfully stopped the live music; now they want the whole place shut down. In the end, this strikes me as the same sort of deal.
Perhaps the folks who bought
Matt Cape CodPerhaps the folks who bought homes in Woods Hole should have done some research before buying by a working port. The ferry lines are the islands lifeline. If you want to live on and enjoy the cape and islands community then please understand what that entails. We live in a unique area. It seems like everyone has forgotten about the needs of the community and is just focusing on what’s best for them.
P.S Remember when the Landfall had live music?
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