Visitors to Boston, a waterfront city, are often surprised by our limited water transportation options. Year-round scheduled water transportation links Boston with the South Shore communities of Hingham and Hull; within the Inner Harbor, residents, workers and visitors travel by scheduled water shuttle between Long Wharf and the Charlestown Navy Yard, or by on-demand water taxi. Seasonal water transportation links Boston with Salem, Lynn and the Boston Harbor Islands.
Planning efforts currently under way recognize the importance of water transportation as part of a comprehensive regional transportation system. In considering future transportation demands, the recently-released South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Plan noted that a greater percentage of Innovation District workers over the next decade will choose to walk or use transit and bicycles. Given the continuing demands and congestion on roadways, the study noted that water transportation is an untapped resource to link jobs in the South Boston waterfront with other waterfront residential neighborhoods, such as East Boston and Charlestown. In a similar vein, municipal harbor planning discussions of Boston’s Downtown Waterfront area have included suggestions for expanded service from Long Wharf to the Harbor Islands and other parts of the waterfront.
This year, several water transportation improvements will come on line. A new dock, compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, is to be installed along the Fort Point Channel, which will allow all people, regardless of ability, to access water transportation services. As part of Related Beal’s redevelopment of Lovejoy Wharf near North Station, a water transportation dock is to be completed later in the year.
A Variety Of Transit Options
Most promising in the near term are the vessels being built for new service routes. The Boston Redevelopment Authority recently issued a request for proposals for two water transportation vessels for use between South Boston and East Boston. Bids are due at the end of March, and once a bidder is selected, the boats should be ready by early 2017. Likewise, Wynn Everett casino and resort will be constructing specially-designed vessels which can fit beneath existing bridges. These state-of-the-art vessels will incorporate innovations in design and environmental sustainability, no doubt helping to set the standard for future vessels in the Harbor.
Opportunities also exist to expand current water transportation service. As an example, The Fallon Co. is currently subsidizing a Cultural Connector to such waterfront cultural institutions as the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston Children’s Museum and the New England Aquarium. It may make sense during peak commuter hours to utilize the Cultural Connector vessel to connect Fan Pier/Innovation District and North Station, a water transportation route recommended in the South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Plan.
For the next several years, Long Island in Boston Harbor will be inaccessible to all while its deteriorated bridge is demolished and potentially replaced. As the city of Boston evaluates the services and programs to be housed on Long Island, water transportation can be an interim or even permanent alternative to accessing the island, much like at the other harbor islands.
In the coming months, as the MBTA examines how best to maintain and operate services, we are optimistic that water transportation will continue to be supported and better integrated with other MBTA services.
This is an exciting time for our region. As Boston 2024 prepares its bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Boston’s waterfront will no doubt be a centerpiece of the submission. Developing a robust water transportation system will be a fitting legacy as part of the continuing renaissance of Boston Harbor and the waterfront.
Vivien Li is president of The Boston Harbor Association, www.tbha.org. She may be reached at vli@tbha.org.
