Wayne Lamson
WOODS HOLE – Last week, Steamship Authority General Manager Wayne Lamson received a petition with more than 2,800 names of people opposed to recent rate increases. On Tuesday, the authority board decided to keep the rate increases in place on the advice of Lamson.
Todd Rebello of Oak Bluffs, who was behind the petition, said falling gas prices this fall were the initial reason he became interested in seeking that the rate increases be repealed or suspended. But the more he looked into the issue, he said he realized that islanders were particularly burdened by the increases to the parking rates and excursion rates, which are the rates for islanders transporting cars that originate on the islands.
Lamson said the Steamship Authority is allowed to move money between different line items in its budget and there is a need for the raised rates, even without higher gas prices.
He said cost overruns on various capital projects over the past year more than cover any savings that the boatline may have seen because of falling gas prices.
He also pointed out that the Steamship Authority uses most of its gas in the last six months of the year and there is no telling what gas prices might look like at that point.
Listen below to Wayne Lamson discussing the Steamship Authority’s recent projects and fare increases.
