Locals on a scenic island in Maine have accused wealthy residents of turning their coastal neighborhood into a 'gated community' complete with sky-high ferry prices they can no longer afford.
Peaks Island's Population Swells in Summer
Peaks Island, the most populous in Casco Bay, has a year-round population of roughly 1,000 residents but sees significant swelling in summer as visitors enjoy its quiet, four-mile walking loop surrounded by shops and beaches. Casco Bay Lines is the primary transportation route off the island, running ferries throughout the bay and offering a 17-minute crossing to Portland. The prices were increased as recently as last year.
Residents Speak Out
On Monday, a residents' group said Peaks Island has become a 'gated community' under wealthy islanders, citing staggering costs just to leave during peak season, according to a news release. One resident, Sharoan Cohen, said moving her son home from college cost about the same as a round-trip flight, even though the journey was only three miles within Portland city limits, according to Bangor Daily News.
During the busy season, a car ferry may cost upwards of $170. Meanwhile, frequent travelers can access passes that lower the per-trip price - a system Cohen said does nothing to benefit the longtime locals. Instead, she explained that most residents tend to stay on the island, and when travel to the mainland is necessary, they must pay the full fare.
Impact on Community
'It diminishes the value of the stewards of the island, who live and work in the community, the artists, the students, the seniors, the infrequent travelers who build our community,' Cohen told the outlet. She is also one of many residents petitioning the Maine Public Utilities Commission to reverse the rate increase imposed last summer, which they say has harmed low and fixed-income islanders.
Now, Maine's ratepayer advocate is asking regulators to investigate the transit agency for failing to prevent a price shock affecting residents who have lived on the island for years. 'There are people who really don't like that, and one way to curtail tourism is to make it so that it's not cost-effective for somebody to come out to vacation,' year-round resident George Purtell told Bangor Daily News.
Regulatory Response
The desperate call for action comes just months after the Public Utilities Commission ordered the transit agency to report in December on how its rate increase would impact ferry-riders. Just last month, the commission released findings indicating 'relatively little impact' on residents, along with a $4,000 contribution to an assistance program, according to the outlet.
In a filing dated May 29, Public Advocate Heather Sanborn challenged the findings, arguing they failed to fully account for income-limited islanders affected. Sanborn, a former Portland state senator who represents Mainers who pay utility costs, said that 59 households on Peaks Island are in poverty, while another 118 have 'constrained incomes,' according to the outlet. She added that, when combined, those figures represent more than a third of the island's households.
Possible Solutions
Because Peaks Island is widely known as a day-trip destination, residents said that shifting ferry costs onto infrequent users could move the financial burden away from locals and onto tourists. However, it is not yet clear whether a regulatory probe into the car ferry fare increase will impact the transit district's next scheduled hike - a passenger fare increase set to take effect on June 20.
