Chairman's Page
FBHI Chairman, Walter Hope, JP
January 2012
Hello and welcome to the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands all new web page, and to this page - the Chairman's Page specifically.
NEW WEB PAGE: A dedicated team of FBHI Board Members worked to take the FBHI page from functioning, to what you see today. We will work continuously to update, improve and refine our web presence. I hope you enjoy the revised page, and the content/information contained within. With that said, let me invite you to visit the FBHI booth at the New England Boat Show, we've already started selling raffle tickets for the event (with over $5000 in prize items!), and have a full compliment of volunteers that will allow us to staff the booth full time for the first time!
MBTA HARBOR FERRY CUTS: While we are excited with the boat show, we are concerned about the recently announced MBTA cuts for the Water Ferries from Hingham, Quincy, and Charlestown. These boats transport thousands of commuters from these cities to Boston every day, as well as tourists and school groups. The MBTA contracts with Boston Harbor Cruises for the Hingham and Charlestown boats, and with Boston's Best Cruises for the Quincy boat. Wharfs at Quincy and Hingham are not state owned and a disruption in service may cause complications (at least) to the Boston Harbor Island Visitors this coming spring, summer and fall.
According to the MBTA, the Hingham and Quincy boats average 3400 daily passengers, and the Charlestown boat averages 808 passengers daily. The MBTA's proposal under both Scenario 1 and Scenario 2, the entire $3.7 million Commuter Boat Program subsidy, which funds all commuter boat and ferry service, is to be eliminated. The average net cost (above the paid fare) per passenger on these services is $2.82. While the MBTA is vastly underfunded, cutting the ferry service will affect thousands daily, and perhaps disrupt the hard work that the Friends, NPS, Harbor Alliance, Save the Harbor-Save the Bay, and other organizations have done over the past 30+ years. The MBTA plans additional cuts including weekend commuter rail, and elimination of 100 bus routes. Please consider attending one of the MBTA public hearings over the coming weeks, or writing your State Representative or other officials. Thank you.
MBTA Web Site
MBTA Reduction Plan
Hello and welcome to the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands all new web page, and to this page - the Chairman's Page specifically.
NEW WEB PAGE: A dedicated team of FBHI Board Members worked to take the FBHI page from functioning, to what you see today. We will work continuously to update, improve and refine our web presence. I hope you enjoy the revised page, and the content/information contained within. With that said, let me invite you to visit the FBHI booth at the New England Boat Show, we've already started selling raffle tickets for the event (with over $5000 in prize items!), and have a full compliment of volunteers that will allow us to staff the booth full time for the first time!
MBTA HARBOR FERRY CUTS: While we are excited with the boat show, we are concerned about the recently announced MBTA cuts for the Water Ferries from Hingham, Quincy, and Charlestown. These boats transport thousands of commuters from these cities to Boston every day, as well as tourists and school groups. The MBTA contracts with Boston Harbor Cruises for the Hingham and Charlestown boats, and with Boston's Best Cruises for the Quincy boat. Wharfs at Quincy and Hingham are not state owned and a disruption in service may cause complications (at least) to the Boston Harbor Island Visitors this coming spring, summer and fall.
According to the MBTA, the Hingham and Quincy boats average 3400 daily passengers, and the Charlestown boat averages 808 passengers daily. The MBTA's proposal under both Scenario 1 and Scenario 2, the entire $3.7 million Commuter Boat Program subsidy, which funds all commuter boat and ferry service, is to be eliminated. The average net cost (above the paid fare) per passenger on these services is $2.82. While the MBTA is vastly underfunded, cutting the ferry service will affect thousands daily, and perhaps disrupt the hard work that the Friends, NPS, Harbor Alliance, Save the Harbor-Save the Bay, and other organizations have done over the past 30+ years. The MBTA plans additional cuts including weekend commuter rail, and elimination of 100 bus routes. Please consider attending one of the MBTA public hearings over the coming weeks, or writing your State Representative or other officials. Thank you.
MBTA Web Site
MBTA Reduction Plan