ch1ck3npotpi3 t1_jacf67l wrote on February 28, 2023 at 12:58 PM

Reply to comment by -doughboy in Boston Daily Discussion Thread, Tuesday February 28 by AutoModerator

The MBTA used to have a more extensive ferry system around Boston Harbor, but most of the routes were canceled due to high operating costs. All we're left with now is a dinky route to Charlestown, a seasonal route to Eastie, and two routes to Hingham and Hull.

https://web.archive.org/web/20030611073010/http://www.mbta.com/traveling_t/pdf/boats/ferryih.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20030403071512/http://www.mbta.com/traveling_t/pdf/boats/ferryoh.pdf

jtet93 t1_jachuor wrote on February 28, 2023 at 1:22 PM

The Eastie route was recently brought back though, right? At least that’s promising. I would like to see the service to Lynn restored too

senatorium t1_jacrqwl wrote on February 28, 2023 at 2:40 PM

It was, but I'm not sure it's permanent. They published the numbers recently (I wish I could remember where I saw them) and as I recall it cost something like $300K to run and didn't get good ridership.

jtet93 t1_jacz68v wrote on February 28, 2023 at 3:31 PM

I feel like Boston always does this thing where they test something for a few months and go “look no one’s riding it.” But in reality it takes much longer for people’s learned behavior to change when it comes to travel.

iliketuurtles t1_jad5l9o wrote on February 28, 2023 at 4:13 PM

Or they don't pay attention to the other factors. When they kept the T open later, "nobody" rode it because 1) it takes time to change behavior 2) Uber was suuuuuuper cheap then

jtet93 t1_jad661u wrote on February 28, 2023 at 4:17 PM

That was SUCH unfortunate timing. Ubers were like $5 to go anywhere and it was still a new thing, so you could get a ton of free rides by referring friends. That trial was during my prime “going out” years and we did use the late night T occasionally but if you had more than 2 people it was cheaper to Uber lol

iliketuurtles t1_jad8geh wrote on February 28, 2023 at 4:32 PM

Yes - I remember doing the math and it was actually cheaper to uber than to take the T. Now I just want the 3 mile trip to/from the airport to be less than $30-40 lol (The only time I use uber because it's so goddamn expensive now)