This project will replace the 35-year-old margaret chase smith which primarily serves the island of islesboro a rural community located 3 miles from the mainland in upper penobscot BAY

This $35,000,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the CFDA 20.532 Passenger Ferry Grant Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program will fund the construction of a new hybrid-electric ferry to replace the 35-year-old Margaret Chase Smith ferry that serves the rural island community of Islesboro, Maine.

The new double-ended ferry will have 3 vehicle lanes and the capacity to carry approximately 40 vehicles and 225 passengers, improving reliability, safety, and accessibility for the roughly 600 year-round residents and 2,000 summer residents of Islesboro. The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote environmental sustainability by replacing an aging diesel vessel with a new hybrid-electric design intended for full electric operation. The award will be administered by the Maine Department of Transportation, the state agency responsible for managing and maintaining transportation infrastructure across Maine.

Activities

This project includes construction of a new ferry to replace the 35-year old margaret chase smith which has exceeded its useful life. The new ferry will provide a vital connection to mainland maine for the roughly 600 residents of the island of islesboro a rural community located in upper penobscot BAY 3 miles off the coast. Design is for a double-ended replacement ferry with 3 vehicle lanes and the capacity to carry approximately 40 vehicles and 225 passengers.

Expected outcomes

This project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote environmental sustainability by replacing an aging diesel vessel with a new hybrid-electric vessel designed to operate with low to zero emissions. The vessels propulsion and on-board battery storage system will be designed for full electric ferry operation in anticipation that the required shoreside electrical charging infrastructure system will be technically and financially viable. By replacing one of the oldest vessels in the fleet this project will increase the reliability of the maine state ferry service system reduce vessel repair and maintenance requirements and ensure continued access for island residents to services goods and medical care. The replacement vessel will incorporate wider vehicle lanes and will enhance the pedestrian access on the ferry to improve safety. The new ferry will have an increased vehicle capacity that will allow more personal and freight vehicles to be carried on each trip improving access for island residents freight and emergency services. The double-ended vessel design will significantly increase the operating efficiency of the route by eliminating the need for the ferry to turn around at each end of the route.

Intended beneficiaries

Islesboro has roughly 600 year-round residents with a summer population of over 2000 and a significant number of visitors. The island is unbridged and msfs provides the only public transportation link and the only means of transporting vehicles and freight trucks to and from the island. Msfs provides service on the 20-minute crossing between islesboro and lincolnville with 9 round trips monday through saturday and 8 round trips on sundays during the peak season slightly reduced to 7 round trips monday through saturday and 5 round trips on sundays during the fall and winter. In 2019 the route carried over 180000 walk-on passengers and over 73000 vehicles.