MBTA Harbor Island Express – Quincy
703 Washington Street
Quincy, MA, 02169
Phone: 617-222-6999
MBTA Harbor Express:
http://www.harborexpress.com/commuters/
Harbor Island Ferry: http://www.harborexpress.com/harborislands/
Please Read October 1, 2009 Amendment Below!
Recently my mom, Ric, Tony and I headed to Harbor Express in Quincy to take a ferry to Bumpkin Island, one of the Boston Harbor Islands. We were excited about seeing the wheelchair sculpture and wheelchair accessible paths after reading
‘Awash in art ‘ By Emily Sweeney/ Boston Globe/ July 26, 2009.
Once we arrived we realized we should have taken the ferry to Bumpkin Island from Hingham or Hull for they have more ferry trips to that island. Instead we took the Harbor Island Ferry to Georges Island . I was pleased to find this ferry ride the most wheelchair accessible boat I’ve ever been on with the exception it doesn’t have wheelchair access to the restroom located on the top level. (I was mistaken about this : Please Read October 1, 2009 Amendment Below!)
Ferry service to Boston Harbor Islands is provided by Water Transportation Alternatives, Inc., under contract to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). You can take the ferry from Boston, Quincy, Logan Airport, Hull, or Hingham. We traveled to Quincy to catch the ferry.
There are two handicap parking spaces located in the parking lot in front of the Harbor Express in Quincy. Stairs lead to the front entry door but there is wheelchair access via a ramp to the side door. The entry door is not automatic so Ric held the door open while Tony pushed my chair inside.
Inside is spacious with plenty of room to maneuver your chair. The customer service counter where you purchase tickets is NOT wheelchair accessible for it is too high. The schedules and brochures set on this countertop are not accessible either for they are too high.
My mom purchased our tickets to Georges Island. The cost of a ticket to the Boston Harbor Islands is: Adult$14.00; Senior (65+) $10.00; Child (3-11) $8.00; Children under 3 FREE. There is NO DISCOUNT for disabled or persons in a wheelchair. I think there should be a discount for not all of the ferry is wheelchair accessible. The restrooms on the ferry are NOT accessible to me because they are located on the upper level.
The restrooms inside the ferry terminal are accessible and fully ADA compliant. An ATM located in the terminal is of a good height for a person seated in a wheelchair.
With our tickets in hand we headed out to the pier where you board the ferry. There is a really nice wide covered walkway that has a gradual slope leading down to pier. The pier is a FLOATING PIER so it is always at equal level with the deck of the ferry for it goes up and down with the tides just like the ferry. Whereas a fixed pier is not always on the same level as a boat for it doesn’t move with the tides. Access to the main deck of the ferry is really easy for there is no need for a ramp.
Once on the ferry, I did not see a restrooms located on the level where I was sitting. (Yet in October I discovered there is an accessible restroom.) The concession countertop where you can purchase a drink or a snack is not wheelchair accessible for it is too high. There is one small open seating area located in front where you in your wheelchair can fit. The rest of the seating on this main level is booth seating which is NOT wheelchair accessible for you would stick out and block the aisle.
Once we arrived at Georges Island I found it easy to exit the boat. A wide section of the pier on Georges Island is lowered to the deck of the ferry. A small wheelchair accessible ramp was used for me to exit the ferry onto the pier. Once everyone has exited the ferry, the pier is raised back up. It’s really cool!
I give Harbor Express in Quincy THREE STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Two Stars they would need to install an automatic entry door so all customers can enter independently; lower a section of the customer service countertop to an accessible height; remove one of the booth seats from a booth on the ferry so it is wheelchair accessible; and offer a disability discount to disabled persons who cannot access the upper deck or restroom on the ferry.
Amendment – October 2, 2009
Mike McGurl, owner Water Transportation Alternatives, Inc notified me to let me know there is a wheelchair accessible restroom located on the first deck that I didn’t see. This restrooms is wheelchair accessible, the doors are wide, the sinks are accessible, the handrails are appropriate and inside turning radios works as well for a person in a wheelchair. He is going to place additional signage within the cabin to direct people to the restroom.
I give Harbor Express in Quincy FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Three Stars they would need to install an automatic entry door so all customers can enter independently; lower a section of the customer service countertop to an accessible height; and remove one of the booth seats from a booth on the ferry so it is wheelchair accessible.
I give Mike McGurl and Water Transportation Alternatives FIVE STARS for their commitment to Accessibility! Thank You Mike!
September 29th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
As one of the owners of Water Transportation Alternatives, Inc., I am happy that you choose to ride with us and that the trip and facilities worked well for you. We designed the entire system back in 1996 to be ADA compliant and have received many complements over the years in this regards. I do want to make one small clarification in that the rest rooms are actually accessible and located on the lower deck. They are near the doors leading to the upper deck. Perhaps a crew person gestured towards where the rstrooms are which is near the door.
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September 29th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Hi Mike,
I really enjoyed the MBTA Harbor Island Express that I took from Quincy to Georges Island & another one from Boston to Spetacle Island. We asked a crew member if there was an accessible restroom on the lower deck on the ferry we took from Quincy and were told “NO” it is on the upper deck. Also we looked and did not see a restroom.
As for the MBTA Harbor Island Express we took out of Boston to Spectacle Island, we did see a restroom on the lower deck by the doors yet it was NOT accessible for me.
My review is @ http://thetravelingwheelchair.com/mbta-harbor-islands-express-boston/
The restroom on this ferry is not wheelchair accessible because the door is too narrow. The door measures only 24 inches wide and my chair is 27 inches wide. We always bring a measuring tape to get exact measurements.
We also discovered from the MBTA that perons with disabilities are given a discount and persons who are legally blind like me can travel for free. I have a card from MCB for proof that I am blind but have not yet gotten a MBTA access pass which I will soon. The MBTA information on this is at http://www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/reduced_fare_programs/.
I look forward to another ferry trip next year to see the access improvements to Georges Island.
Thanks,
Kenny
October 1st, 2009 at 9:38 am
Kenny,
Thanks for your response. All of your comments are great and give us a new perspective from which to view our facilites and vessels. Overall, making the marine environment accessible is a work in porgress. Much of the infrastructre was designed well before the ADA came into existence with its enlightened view of accessibility issues. The vessels and facilities we have designed and built, while not perfect, are light years ahead of all other maritime operations in terms of accesibility. Comments and reviews such as yours help us to refine the areas that are not “perfect”. The one area with which I take issue is the restrooms on the MBTA Harbor Express vessels. If you look at your photograph of you at the snack bar, you can see the port side restroom door partially visible behind the pop corn machine. Also, if you look at the picture of you at the front of the boat, with the camera aimed aft, you can just make out the starbord side restroom door just past the sliding side door. These restrroms are in fact accessible, the doors are wide enough, the sinks are accessible, handrails are appropriate and inside turning radios works as well. We probably need to place additional signage within the cabin to direct people to the restrooms. As for the restroom on the Harbor Island boat, I chekced myself and you are correct, the door is not wide enough to accomodate all chairs. It seems to be an installation problem with the sliding part of the door. The actual opening is wide enough, but the door does not slide completely clear. I will work on this techincal snag. I will also look at the other issues you raise to see what can be done to improve the experience for all people.
In conclusion, we have been proud of the accessiblity we offer in a challenging environment. We get a lot of groups to ride with us specifically because of our commitment to accesibility. I look forward to having you ride with us again and hopefully when you do, you will notice continuing improvement.
Thanks for the opportunity to correspond with you.
Regards,
Mike McGurl
October 1st, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Hi Mike,
You should be PROUD of the ACCESSIBILITY of the Harbor Express! It’s the most accessible boat I’ve been on. We must have misunderstood the crew member; when we asked if there was a restroom on the first deck and he pointed to the doors; we assumed he was pointing to the door leading to the upper deck. It was my first time on board and I didn’t notice the sliding doors.
As for the Harbor Island Express I think it was great you checked the width of the entrance and will correct the technical problem.
I look forward to riding on the Harbor Island Express again next summer. I really want to see the accessibility improvements being made to George’s Island and want to see the wheelchair sculpture at Bumpkin Island because I never quite made it there :>)
Thanks for your understanding and help!
Kenny
PS. I amended the rating to 4 Stars which you can see in the review and you and Water Transportation Alternatives 5 Stars for your commitment to Accessibility!!!