Case Details

- Case Details:

Case Number:

2024-00097

Case Status:

Closed by Commission Order

Utility/Industry Type :

Water Carriers

Utility/Industry Subtype :

None

Case Type :

REQUEST FOR APPROVAL

Case Subtype :

PROPOSED INCREASE IN RATES IN CASCO BAY

Pertaining to Utility/Company :

CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT

Case Title :

REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF PROPOSED INCREASE IN RATES IN CASCO BAY (6/1/24) PERTAINING TO CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT.

Initiating Filer :

CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT

Case Start Date :

4/30/2024

Assigned Staff :

Ashley.Lewia,
Dale.Coty,
David.Braley,
Jordan.D.McColman,
Michael.R.Johnson,
amy.mills,
Jason.Marco

View Case References

Filings (15) Data Requests (0)Public Comments (38) Active Party and Notification List (3) Assigned Staff (7)

Item No.	Date Filed	Description Of Filing	Filing Party	Filed By	No of Attachments	Deleted Filings
15	8/1/2024	Order Declining to Open Formal Investigation	COMMISSION, MPUC	COMMISSION, MPUC	1
14	7/25/2024	Comment	Wendell, Mary Lou	Wendell, Mary Lou	1
13	7/23/2024	COMMENTS	CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT	Lightbody, John C	1
12	7/9/2024	Recommended Decision	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1
11	6/11/2024	Exhibit	DOUKAS Esq., ANDREW J	DOUKAS Esq., ANDREW J	1
10	6/11/2024	EXHIBIT TO ANSWER	DOUKAS Esq., ANDREW J	DOUKAS Esq., ANDREW J	2
9	6/7/2024	RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION AND COMMENTS	CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT	Lightbody, John C	2
8	6/3/2024	Comment from Andrew Doukas ET AL	DOUKAS Esq., ANDREW J	DOUKAS Esq., ANDREW J	1
7	5/28/2024	Procedural Order on Public Comment	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1
6	5/20/2024	Notice of Summary Investigation	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1

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Posted By	Posted Date	Comments	Attachment(s)
Susan Hanley Susan Hanley 108 Brackett Avenue, Peaks Island, ME Email ID: susan.hanley123@gmail.com Phone No.: 2073322443	6/26/2024	I am writing in support of the rate change proposed by the Casco Bay Island Transit District board. I fully support these rate changes and am so pleased that they have gone into effect. The new monthly pass and annual pass rates truly help islanders who commute by ferry on a regular basis. The monthly passes also allow islanders to bring their bikes to the mainland for free which helps to resolve some mainland parking and transportation issues as well. Inflation alone would increase the cost of an adult passenger ticket from $7.75 in 2009 to $10.61 today. So the actual increase is less than $3. This effective $3 increase is reasonable, given the rising prices of fuel, employee benefits and pay, and repairs. PLEASE APPROVE THIS RATE CHANGE!! This is the first effort by the CBITD board to support year-round island living.
Andrew Doukas 673 Congress Street Portland ME 04101 Email ID: ajdoukas@gmail.com	5/31/2024	I have read all of the public comments. Comments made by islanders supporting the visitor rate increases and resident ticket decreases are self-serving. Residents make an argument about how the transit district needs to cut its deficit, but nobody who commented went beyond a surface summary of why. Obviously none of them have any idea of the financial workings of the CBITD. Those who will be hit hardest by the doubling of the ticket prices are probably not a party to this proceeding, as it is not central to their daily lives. That is why the PUC needs to step up and put a stop to this outrageous money grab. Hank Berg successfully led the CBITD through decades of good times and bad times. There were boat issues, fuel cost issues, crowd issues, and covid issues, but Hank, along with Nick Mavadonis (Operations Manager) figured out how to navigate all these issues while still maintaining excellent service. But as soon as he retired, certain Board members decided this was their opportunity to socially reconstruct Peaks Island via the CBITD, within a mask of cutting a "deficit." Buy out the locals with price cuts, and then raise ticket prices to keep the masses away. Ragae Sunday? Not any more. You don't cut resident ticket prices to erase deficits. Reminder that those resident rates have not been raised in 15 years. Why cut them now? Blatantly unfair.
John and Anne Richardson Whitman 162 Island Avenue Peaks Island, ME 04108 Email ID: jwhitman@rwlb.com Phone No.: 2077747474	5/31/2024	I moved to Peaks Island in 1976, five years before CBITD was born, and have been a year-round resident since then; between us, Anne and I have logged 98 years on the island. We're writing in solid support of the proposed rate changes. About 6-8 years ago Hank Berg came down to Peaks for a heavily attended meeting. He allowed that CBL was running at a huge deficit, but no problem because subsidies from the government would always keep it afloat. I asked why CBL hadn't raised the fares (which had been unchanged for about a decade). Instead, he touted his plan of increasing the ridership to Peaks--as if to say, "we're losing money on each passenger, but we'll make it up in volume." No one likes inflation, but every passenger to Peaks Island knows we all have to live with it. The new fare increases--finally--reflect that inconvenient truth. Those islanders who have voiced opposition to the new fares seem to be lobbying for their own narrow advantage, not the overall benefit to the island. The fare increase that has received the most opposition is the one that would bring the greatest benefits to islanders overall. The single ticket price is being raised by about $7.00. By far the majority of single-ticket purchasers are day-tripping tourists, who will pay the incremental amount without blinking an eye, generating an enormous increase in revenue. If relatives and friends come to visit us occasionally on the island, the extra $7.00 won't bother them or us. There is no need for the PUC to conduct an "investigation." Throughout the process, the CBL Board has been transparent, with frequent meetings open to the public and email broadcasts. The fare revision has been a daily topic of conversation and social media for the past couple of months. The topic has been widely reported in the news media as well, including the Portland Press-Herald and our local newspaper, Peaks Island News. Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
Cynde Putney 325 Island Ave Peaks Island, ME 04108	5/31/2024	I am writing in support of the proposed rate changes for Casco Bay Lines. I have lived on Peaks year around for 45 years, raising children here, and now a semi-retired person who only commutes 1-2 days per week. My adult son lives and works on the island and my adult daughter lives out of state so visits only occasionally, with varied needs we are all in support of the proposed change. With no ticket price increase in 15 years, and a consistently inadequate revenue stream clearly a change needed to be made. The proposed rate changes were very carefully and creatively thought out to best serve the majority of island residents, while shifting the burden of the needed increased revenue to the huge influx of tourist traffic during the summer months. The availability of reduced monthly and annual passes combined with increased single pass tickets is a creative compromise to increasing revenue while still supporting the island residents, this is mandated in the CBL mission statement: "?to provide sufficient dependable, reliable service in a safe and secure manner, as affordably as possible, so as to preserve our year-round island communities?." The proposed changes were shared with the island community throughout the planning process and public comment was not only welcomed but actively encouraged. Please approve the proposed new rate structure.
William Doukas 195 State Street, Apt #4, Portland, Maine 04101 Email ID: wdoukas@gmail.com Phone No.: 207-318-9234	5/30/2024	As a resident of Portland I disagree with the rate changes passed by the CBITD Board. I support the possibility that PUC investigate this matter thoroughly. As a taxpayer I am currently subsidizing this ferry transportation, and do not believe I, or other folks in the same position, need to subsidize it further with a nearly doubled rate to travel to this region of Portland. My understanding is a $4+ million deficit occurs annually and this rate change will account for $1 million, or 25%. Grants have been historically utilized to make up deficit gaps. This is the first rate increase in 15 years, therefore understandable adjustments are certainly past due. However, to increase rates 80+% for all folks who would like to take a day trip, or islanders who just make a few trips per month, while at the same time substantially dropping rates for a select group of island residents, is a very questionable remedy. An unfair distribution of costs is not sustainable; this rate change is unfair.
Ed Daranyi 726 Seashore Avenue Peaks Island, ME 04108 Email ID: edaranyi@yahoo.com Phone No.: 2077764664	5/28/2024	I have been a year-round Peaks Island resident for 25 years. My wife and I raised our family of four on Peaks Island. Our kids are now living off-island, working or going to school. The proposed rate changes make sense to all six of us. We will be impacted by the rate change increase for visitors and decrease for island residents. We also have many guests and host people visiting the island that will be impacted, and again, the rate changes make sense to us and this population. From conversations we have had with locals and visitors in the past weeks, ALL have been supportive of the proposed changes and ALL see the situation for what it is. Operating costs have continued to increase, rates have stayed the same. They (and us) know that a change is needed. We appreciate the CBL board striving to not be dependent upon grants to make the ferry system and service sustainable. There have been no changes to rates for a significant amount of time--now is the time to do it. We understand that there is a petition out requesting a denial of this request. They are not proposing a solution to the situation--it's easy to deny and not come up with solutions. The rate proposed rate changes are being made by our elected representatives, in tandem with the CBL operations management. I ask that you approve the change being proposed by our trusted leadership without delay. Thank you for your consideration, Ed Daranyi
Mark Greene 36 Eastern Ave. Long Island, Maine 04050 Email ID: mlongreene2@aol.com Phone No.: 207 831 6243	5/27/2024	Gentlepersons; Having spent much of my life working to preserve one of Maine's 14 remaining year round island communities, I find the rate proposal for the CBITD to be a positive step to not only insure future financial improvement to the ferry operation, but a positive move for the continued survival of our town. A strong symbiotic relationship exists between the small permanent communities on these islands and the many seasonal residents and additional tourists. Living here is expensive due to added costs of almost everything that has to get here on the ferry plus mainland parking and other off island needs. I have never been anywhere myself as a visitor or tourist where a $14 roundtrip ticket would have been a hardship for transportation! What is a hardship is the cost to those who have to commute daily or frequently to the mainland for employment, medical appointments, school etc. It is a testament to the unique non-profit entity created nearly 40 years ago from a bankrupt poorly run private company that the rates have stayed stable for nearly 15 years and that the proposed new rates take into account the needs of the permanent and part time residents who maintain the island communities for the benefit of the tourists and part time residents. It is also a strong comment of support that the Board of Directors from all 6 Island communities supported this creative balance of a proposal unanimously save one. Please vote to allow this rate hike to move forward quickly. Thank you, Mark Greene
Cyrus Hagge 510 Island Ave Long Island, ME04050 Email ID: chagge@mac.com Phone No.: 207-274-1547	5/27/2024	One of the biggest issues is maintaining the year round island residents. There is considerable pressure on the year round housing stock to convert to weekly rentals and seasonal use. The proposed rate structure will help the year round residents get affordable travel for their families and help to keep them on the islands. I urge you to approve the proposed rate structure and its positive impact on year round residents travel expenses.
Diane watts 20 Frances lane Long Island Maine 04050 Email ID: dwatts831@gmail.com Phone No.: 207-776-9228	5/26/2024	I thoroughly agree with the new rates. A break for those of us who live year round is appreciated where vacationers use it less but more volume in summer helps defray some of the loss. The additional boats and crew is necessary to serve the summer influx.
John Mahany 34 Gorham Ave. Long Island, Maine 04050 Email ID: johnmahany4@gmail.com Phone No.: 207-233-5201	5/26/2024	I am in favor of the proposed rate increase for Casco Bay Lines.

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Notification List Active Party List

Name of Person/Company	Representing Company	Mailing Address	Email/Phone/Fax
DOUKAS Esq., ANDREW J	ANDREW DOUKAS ET AL	673 CONGRESS STREET PORTLAND ME 04101	Email ID: AJDOUKAS@GMAIL.COM Phone Ph: 207-871-7232 Fax:
Giggey, Sharon	CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT	PO Box 9785 Portland ME 04104 5085	Email ID: sgiggey@mpmlaw.com Phone Ph: 207-523-8230 Fax: Fax: 207-773-8023
Lightbody, John C	CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT	PO Box 9785 Portland ME 04104 5085	Email ID: jlightbody@mpmlaw.com Phone Ph: 207-523-8217 Fax: Fax: 207-773-8023

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Staff Name	Role
Braley, David	Reviewer
Coty, Dale	Support Staff
Johnson, Michael	Staff Analyst
Lewia, Ashley	Support Staff
Marco, Jason	Staff Analyst
McColman, Jordan	Hearing Examiner
Mills, Amy	Hearing Examiner

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