Case Details

- Case Details:

Case Number:

2025-00160

Case Status:

Open

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 PERTAINING TO CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT.

Initiating Filer :

CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT

Case Start Date :

5/23/2025

Assigned Staff :

Dale.Coty,
Jordan.D.McColman,
amy.mills,
Hailey.Rizzo,
Janet.Couture,
Jason.Marco

View Case References

Filings (23) Data Requests (0)Public Comments (112) Active Party and Notification List (12) Assigned Staff (6)

Item No.	Date Filed	Description Of Filing	Filing Party	Filed By	No of Attachments	Deleted Filings
23	7/17/2025	Procedural Order (Information Request)	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1
22	7/16/2025	Response to CBITD response to PUC questions	Wendell, Mary Lou	Wendell, Mary Lou	1
21	7/15/2025	Response to CBITD Attachment 6	Kelsey, Margaret	Kelsey, Margaret	1
20	7/11/2025	ATTACHMENT 6 - FTA FY 2024 TRIENNIAL REVIEW	CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT	Lightbody, John C	7
19	6/25/2025	Tariffs Approved 6/21/2025	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	2
18	6/25/2025	Procedural Order (Information Request)	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1
17	6/20/2025	Email w CBITD Board President_Re Tariff Documentation Omissions	Kelsey, Margaret	Kelsey, Margaret	1
16	6/18/2025	CBITD Rate Structure: Conflicting Terms Create Implementation Risks	Kelsey, Margaret	Kelsey, Margaret	1
15	6/17/2025	Office of the Public Advocats Response to CBITD Objection	OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE	PUBLIC ADVOCATE, MAINE OFFICE OF THE	1
14	6/17/2025	Response to CBITD Objection to OPA	Kelsey, Margaret	Kelsey, Margaret	1

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Posted By	Posted Date	Comments	Attachment(s)
Thomas Somers West Point Dad 320 Morning Glory Drive Garner, NC 27529 Email ID: thomashsomers@gmail.com Phone No.: 8023630942	7/23/2025	The Peaks Island Council, in its 5/28/25, meeting, stated that the PIC has NO AUTHORITY to advocate on behalf of islanders re: CBITD rate increase. As a 35-year member of the Maine Bar, now retired, the statute governing the PIC, as well as its by-laws, contains no such silly restriction. The PIC has a fiduciary obligation, a moral obligation, to intervene before the PUC in this very case. Failing to do so merely rubber stamps everything CBITD does now and forever, setting precedent for years to come, forbidding the PIC from doing anything with respect to the most vital lifeline for Peaks Island and all associated with it. The PIC takes no position on the most important issue concerning Peaks Island's future as a vital island community in the best traditions of Maine island life. The PIC cannot address issues affecting the children of islanders using CBITD, to attend schools in Portland, seniors and low income islanders who need vital medical appointments and prescriptions via the car ferry, fellow Portlanders, Mainers and summer residents who are not only taxpayers subsidizing the CBITD monopoly, but essential members of the island community for the small businesses on Peaks and its civic groups for 150 years. The most recent PIC minutes show it involved with immigration matters with the Portland Chief of Police, the schedule that police cadets might have on the island, "congestion" caused by fellow Mainers visiting the island in the summer, an exercise station at Trott-Littlejohn Park, removal of the old shed at the ball field, the number of plantings at the Brackett Cemetery, and a great deal on the ever pressing issue in the daily livelihoods of all islanders --golf carts. See Minutes of May 28, 2025, The first items on today's PIC agenda are a porta-potty at the ballfield, the eternal wait for a ramp to Sandy Beach and its painting and "no update" on ferry service.
Mary Lou Wendell Mary Lou Wendell 146 LEDGEWOOD ST Email ID: marylouwendell@gmail.com Phone No.: 2072105756	7/14/2025	The CBITD filed a pleading late Friday on July 11 in response to the PUC inquiry questioning its decision-making process for these new, preposterous car ferry rate increases. There are a number of responses that are, in fact, non-responsive. I and others are preparing a written response pointing out where the CBITD failed to respond in good faith as requested. In the meantime, I offer the following reason the CBITD board and its responses to the PUC questions are not to be trusted: This argument about inflated rates for non-commuters and accompanying complaints is not new. It was made last year to CBITD board members when they were trying to get ticket rates for non-commuters doubled and approved by the PUC. Jean Hoffman, CBITD board member and chief architect of last year's ticket rate increase and this new car ferry increase, got her scheme approved by residents, in part, because she promised in April, 2024 (so as not to get too many complaints to the PUC) to address the injustice of fair increases for non-commuters' and their families. Ms. Hoffman wrote: "...we committed to figuring out a resident family discount pack..." (Full comment is attached...) That promise never came through and islanders continue to suffer financially as a result. I just spent $28 so two of my young adult children can come to their home, the home they were born and raised in. The new car ferry rates now add financial insult to this existing financial injury. Ms. Hoffman's duplicitous promise from last year, I firmly believe, was designed to get islanders to back her scheme to double ticket prices for non-commuters. I think the evidence I'm presenting here, in addition to the many PUC questions the CBITD board did not fully to, is just one more reason not to trust board members of the CBITD who are pushing this latest scheme despite the obvious harm it inflicts on the entire island community.	Jean Hoffman public promise from April 2024.pdf
Sharoan Cohen Island Resident 131 Central Ave. Peaks Island 04108 Email ID: sharoana@gmail.com Phone No.: (207)776-5066	7/11/2025	Please refer to my attached document regarding my opposition to the now in effect vehicle rate change to Peaks Island. Thank you, Sharoan Cohen	Vehicle rate change.odt
robert lieber 41 Bayberry Lane Email ID: robert.alfred.lieber@gmail.com Phone No.: 2074001424	6/27/2025	Please review this case, thank you.
Adam Sullivan 81 Luther St Peaks Island, ME 04108	6/27/2025	I am writing in response to the continued efforts to reverse the recent change in vehicle rates on the Casco Bay Peaks Island ferry. I completely oppose these efforts and I feel that they are in bad faith. The board spent most of the last year to come to the current plan and I believe it is extremely fair and equitable to all shareholders. Residents have access to reduced winter rates the majority of the week and visitors are still paying less to bring a car over than parking in the city for a week. There is no reasonable need to bring a car back and forth multiple times each week but if that is what someone wants to do, a vehicle pass is included in the annual pass. Summer 'residents' are visitors and still have access to cheaper rates through the 90 day pass. Do not force CBL to reverse their policies and cause further damage to the operations of the ferry that everyone relies on to get to the city.
Mary Lou Wendell Mary Lou Wendell 146 LEDGEWOOD ST Email ID: marylouwendell@gmail.com Phone No.: 2072105756	6/25/2025	Once again, I cannot stress enough that people making comments in support of this CBITD scheme, stating that a car ferry "increase" is appropriate and in order, are not people who will be paying any increase. These are islanders who will actually be paying less for the car ferry than they were before this change was implemented on June 21. These are people who look forward to paying less and who benefited greatly from last year's scheme, allowing them to buy annual passes at discounted rates. That annual pass that they are already purchasing at a discounted rate now allows these same people to use the car ferry at the same or discounted rates as before with the added advantage that the lines for the ferry will be much shorter because fewer people can afford to visit Peaks Island by car ferry now. Last year's changes also benefited upper-income islanders on Peaks while placing the financial burden of covering these cost reductions on lower-income islanders and visitors. So this latest scheme is an "increase" for sure, but not for many of the people on this website saying how great this "increase" is. They are saying this increase is great so long as other people are paying it and subsidizing the decrease they are enjoying. This rate change is hurting many, many islanders, year-round islanders who are not commuters, seasonal cottage owners, and island business owners, all of whom face a shattered island life. If the PUC approves this change, the life many have known will be irretrievably lost because family, friends, and others cannot visit the island anymore as a result of this shift to reductions for seniors and commuters while placing the financial burden of covering for these reductions on everyone else, the majority of whom are lower income islanders.
Peter Robinson Poultney Vermont Email ID: peter@robinsonandson.net Phone No.: 518-683-0876	6/25/2025	I am a property owner on Peaks. It appears to me that the significant rate rise in vehicle rates to Peaks is in order,noting that almost 50% of the present CBL budget consists of federal funds. In the face of the recent government cuts to education, research and soon Medicaid, the subsidized portion of the budget is certainly in some jeopardy going forward. The CBL board, presumably in consultation with counsel,attempted to formulate a rate rise which was as fair and legal as possible, yet with provisions to provide some potential relief for year round Peaks residents. A significant rate hike was not only justified for this and other reasons, but it was necessary to maintain service to Peaks and the other islands which residents and tourists have come to expect , in keeping with mission mandates. With financial realities of CBL as a key consideration, I support the new vehicle fare structure: the question of whether or the CBL board successfully threaded the fair and legal needle in the new rates is something the PUC must now decide.
Margaret Kelsey 216 Island Ave. Email ID: Mhkelsey@mhkleadership.com Phone No.: 2072744747	6/25/2025	PUC Commissioners Looking at the comments shared, i notice the following. Comments in favor of the rate change share two primary sentiments. Being content/happy with the change because it benefits them personally. And, applauding CBITD efforts to be more fiscally responsible. In contrast, those oppose share much more than the impact to themselves. They talk about the hardships to their families, guests, businesses. They speak of needing to sell and move off. They speak of the impact to the island community, such as losing artists, musicians, writers, healers, students, striving families. The public deserves to hear from you on whether or not you are going to open an investigation.
Nancy Freeborn 34 Orchard St, Peaks Island ME 04108	6/24/2025	As a year round resident on Peaks Island I use the ferry often as my public transportation throughout the year. My biggest concern is that this rate change was hastily pushed through without answering important questions and concerns from island residents. Two important questions I have: 1. How can CBL possibly consider a rate change for passenger vehicles WITHOUT weighing the commercial vehicle use into the whole equation?? It makes no sense! To not consider the decreased revenue they must incur from commercial vehicles taking the equivalent of 6 passenger cars is ludicrous. Those vehicles taking multiple spaces should be charged accordingly. Not to mention the chaos and long vehicle lines these commercial vehicles cause. ALL vehicle transport on the ferry should be considered in these rate changes. 2. Residents need to see the report which I certainly hope was done showing what impact the new rates will have on our cost of food and utilities, such as groceries, oil, firewood etc. We need to see their impact reports for the ripple effect the new rates will cause. Please, slow this whole thing down so more research and consideration can be done. Thank you!
Brian 25 Oak ave Email ID: Weilba@aol.com Phone No.: 978-815-8312	6/24/2025	I thinks the only reasonable explanation as to why this outrageous increase was voted in was to limit people coming to the Island. This is done by the I'm on the island now crowd so let's not let other people in. This is at the expense of year round islanders , seasonal islanders and businesses that rely heavily on summer tourist to have a successful year. I do hope you reconsider this increase to a more reasonable rate. This is a classic case of price gouging that has no place in public transportation. Thanks Brian

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Notification List Active Party List

Name of Person/Company	Representing Company	Mailing Address	Email/Phone/Fax
Chamberlin, Susan W		103 Water Street, 3rd Flr SHS #112 Hallowell ME 04347	Email ID: susan.w.chamberlin@maine.gov Phone Ph: 207-624-3679 Fax: Fax: 207-287-4300
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
Gildart, Caity		ME	Email ID: CaityG@cascobaylines.com Phone Fax:
Hevey, Richard	OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE	112 State House Station Augusta ME 04333 0112	Email ID: richard.p.hevey@maine.gov Phone Ph: 207-557-0290 Fax:
Kelsey, Margaret		216 Island Ave Peaks Island ME 04108	Email ID: mhkelsey@mhkleadership.com Phone Ph: 207-274-4747 Fax:
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
Mavodones, Nicholas		PO Box 4656 Portland ME 04112	Email ID: NickM@cascobaylines.com Phone Ph: 207-774-7871 Fax:
McDonald, Kelly M.		PO Box 9785 Portland ME 04104	Email ID: kmcdonald@mpmlaw.com Phone Ph: 207-523-8219 Fax: Fax: 207-773-8023
Sanborn, Heather		103 Water Street, 3rd FLr SHS 112 Hallowell ME 04347	Email ID: heather.sanborn@maine.gov Phone Ph: 207-624-3680 Fax:
Somers, Thomas		320 Morning Glory Drive Garner NC 27529	Email ID: thomashsomers@gmail.com Phone Ph: 802-363-0942 Fax:

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Staff Name	Role
Coty, Dale	Support Staff
Couture, Janet	Support Staff
Marco, Jason	Staff Analyst
McColman, Jordan	Reviewer
Mills, Amy	Hearing Examiner
Rizzo, Hailey	Hearing Examiner

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