Rockland Ferry Terminal

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Coordinates: 44°06′27″N 69°06′29″W / 44.10739°N 69.10808°W / 44.10739; -69.10808
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Rockland Ferry Terminal
The terminal in July 2023
General information
Location517A Main Street
Rockland, ME 04841
Coordinates44°06′27″N 69°06′29″W / 44.10739°N 69.10808°W / 44.10739; -69.10808
Transit authorityMaine State Ferry Service
ConnectionsConcord Coach Lines
Construction
ParkingYes
Other information
Station codeROD (Amtrak)[1]
Websitehttps://www.maine.gov/mdot/ferry/rockland/
Location
Map

Rockland Ferry Terminal is a public ferry terminal and intercity bus stop in Rockland, Maine. It is the mainland terminus for ferries to three island communities in Penobscot Bay: Vinalhaven, North Haven and Matinicus. Concord Coach Lines provides bus service to Portland, Bangor, Boston, and nearby towns.

State law requires the Maine Department of Transportation to operate the ferry routes as part of the Maine State Ferry Service. Ferries to Vinalhaven and North Haven depart several times per day, year-round. Matinicus sees 12 to 36 departures spread throughout the year.[2] These islands are popular summer colonies that often see their populations quadruple during the tourist season.[3] All ferries allow passengers, bicycles, motor vehicles, and freight. Reservations are recommended for cars and trucks.[4]

History[edit]

The M/V Everett Libby docked at Rockland Terminal

In December 1958, the Maine Port Authority (MPA) solicited bids for construction of a new ferry terminal in Rockland.[5] The following month, the Rockland City Council granted approval for the MPA to build a new slip at the site for use by the Vinalhaven ferry. Though harbormaster Bertram Snow warned the new slip would be vulnerable to storm damage, the MPA agreed to accept the liability.[6][7]

The current terminal building was built in the mid-1990s.[8]

In August 2011, a man accidentally drove a car through the outer wall of the terminal building, causing a minor injury.[9]

In March 2012, the Captain E. Frank Thompson was delivered to Rockland Terminal to serve on the Vinalhaven route, replacing the Governor Curtis. The 154-foot (47 m), 494-short-ton (448,000 kg) vessel was built by C&G Boatworks in Mobile, Alabama, on a $9.25 million contract. It was the first addition to the Maine State Ferry Service fleet in 19 years.[3] The Governor Curtis was retained as a backup ferry and has been used when other vessels experience mechanical issues.[10]

In a fall 2012 project, workers installed an automated ticketing system for the parking lot and backup generators for the motorized ferry ramps.[8] A fall 2018 project added 12 parking spaces, upgraded the drainage system, and improved the traffic flow.[11]

In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Haven Select Board voted to block non-full-time residents from traveling to the island on the ferry.[12] In March 2021, the terminal building was closed for several days after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, though ferry service was not suspended.[13]

Ferry routes[edit]

Mainland terminus Island terminus Vessel(s) Distance Time
Rockland Vinalhaven Captain Charles Philbrook, Captain E. Frank Thompson 15 mi (24 km) 1:15[14]
North Haven Captain Neal Burgess 12.5 mi (20.1 km) 1:10[15]
Matinicus Isle M/V Everett Libby 23 mi (37 km) 2:15[16]

Transit connections[edit]

Concord Coach Lines serves the terminal, providing year-round intercity bus service on a route between Boston South Station and Bangor.[17][18] The stop is part of the Amtrak Thruway network—riders can make ticketed transfers between the bus and the Downeaster at Portland Transportation Center.[1][19]

The terminal is within walking distance of Rockland station, which had seasonal passenger train service to Brunswick from 2003 to 2015. As of 2021, plans to extend the Downeaster to Rockland are under consideration.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Rockland, ME - Maine State Ferry Terminal (ROD)". www.amtrak.com. Amtrak. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Title 23, §4401: Ferry service for North Haven, Vinalhaven, Islesboro, Matinicus Isle, Swan's Island and Frenchboro". legislature.maine.gov. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b Betts, Stephen (26 March 2012). "State's first new ferry in nearly 20 years arrives in Rockland". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Rockland Terminal Vehicle Reservations & Line-Up Procedure". www.maine.gov. Maine State Ferry Service. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  5. ^ "MAINE PORT AUTHORITY ASKS BIDS ON FERRY TERMINALS AT ROCKLAND AND GRIMES PARK IN VINALHAVEN". The Courier-Gazette. 23 December 1958. p. 1. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  6. ^ "HARBORMASTER ASKS MORE SOLID CONSTRUCTION THAN THAT SHOWN IN MPA PLAN FOR FERRY PIER". The Courier-Gazette. 17 January 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  7. ^ "MAINE PORT AUTHORITY MAINE PORT AUTHORITY ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR DOCK PLAN AND GETS COUNCIL OKAY FOR JOB". The Courier-Gazette. 24 January 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  8. ^ a b Betts, Stephen (7 August 2012). "State to make upgrades at Rockland ferry terminal". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  9. ^ Curtis, Abigail (12 August 2011). "Driver knocks open hole in wall of ferry terminal building". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  10. ^ Betts, Stephen (4 January 2016). "North Haven Ferry out of service". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Rockland Ferry Terminal to undergo major improvements". PenBay Pilot. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  12. ^ Abbate, Lauren (16 March 2020). "Maine island bans non-residents from visiting in an attempt to prevent COVID-19 outbreak". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  13. ^ McGuire, Peter (31 March 2021). "Rockland ferry terminal closed after COVID-19 case". Press Herald. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Vinalhaven Ferry". www.maine.gov. Maine State Ferry Service. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  15. ^ "North Haven Ferry". www.maine.gov. Maine State Ferry Service. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Matinicus Ferry". www.maine.gov. Maine State Ferry Service. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Rockland, ME Bus Stop". Concord Coach Lines. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Midcoast Maine to/from Portland, Boston, & Logan Airport". Concord Coach Lines. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Amtrak Routes and Schedules". www.cwrr.com. Cyberspace World Railroad. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  20. ^ Burnham, Emily (1 April 2021). "Amtrak could extend service to Rockland under Biden's infrastructure plan". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
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