Maine State Ferry Service Survey and Webinar

May 25, 2022 – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
REGISTER HERE

This event is for island residents and commuters who use the Maine State Ferry Service

The Island Institute has engaged KPFF Consulting Engineers to conduct a study designed to explore the future operations strategy of the Maine State Ferry Service (MSFS). We are writing with a bit of background and to encourage your participation in an upcoming survey that will inform the study.

In partnership with the Maine Department of Transportation, and with input from island residents, this study will look at MSFS’s operations, island resident and commuter needs, and comparable systems. The results will provide MSFS and the islands served by the state with a look at feasible strategies for the future that meet islander needs as much as possible within the state budget and operations.

To date, MSFS has provided KPFF with data on ridership, service routes & schedules, vessels, finances, and other information. Soon, you will have a chance to provide your thoughts and opinions for the future direction of MSFS.

In the next couple of weeks, a survey will come out to collect the thoughts of users focusing on island residents, including youth and those who work or attend school on the islands. The survey will be available online as well as paper copies on the ferries with deposit boxes. There may be other in-person locations as well; individual towns will be notified of select locations. We anticipate the survey will take 10-20 minutes to complete and it will be open for three weeks. We will send you a link to the online survey once it is available.  

In the meantime, we invite you to attend a brief online meeting on May 25 to get more background on this process from the Island Institute. 
Click here to register for the free online meeting.

Additional background information:
KPFF is a national firm with offices across the country; the firm worked with Casco Bay Lines on their electrification study and came recommended to us. The Island Institute is engaging in ferry work now as many of MSFS’s vessels are nearing the end of their service life. With a useful vessel life of ~30 years, this is an opportune time to review the state’s Ferry Service before the next 30 or so years of operational costs become locked in. Additionally, the state Transportation Committee has requested DOT to review the ferries’ operational expenses.

Read more about why Island Institute is supporting Maine’s ferries here.