AUGUSTA – Rep. Lydia Crafts, D-Newcastle, introduced legislation before the Transportation Committee on Tuesday that would ask the Maine State Ferry Service to study the possibility of a consistent ferry service to Monhegan Island.
According to the 2020 census, Monhegan has a year-round population of 64. Seasonal boats carry hundreds of summer visitors to the island daily from Boothbay, New Harbor and Tenants Harbor. But in the winter, islanders find their access to the mainland limited to boat runs two or three days per week based on the postal contracts.
“The ability for an island community to sustain itself, to retain its working families and to attract new residents depends entirely on access to reliable transportation to the mainland,” said Crafts. “Without consistent ferry service, families cannot comfortably live on an island, children cannot easily attend school and small businesses cannot thrive. This bill would help protect islanders' way of life.”
The study would include an assessment of the economic and social benefits and challenges of implementing ferry service, the infrastructure resources and needs on the island and mainland and the overall feasibility of such a service.
The Legislature’s Transportation Committee will hold a work session on this bill in the coming weeks.
Rep. Crafts is serving her third term in the Maine House and represents Bristol, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Nobleboro and Monhegan Plantation. She serves as House chair of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Crafts) | 305-965-2744