It worked.
The St. John Chamber of Commerce's call for people to express opposition to the VI Port Authority's plan to install a turnstile at Red Hook (see below) has met with some success.
"Ken Hobson, Executive Director of VIPA, just called to let (us) know that the VIPA Board has decided to reassess the turnstile situation," said the Chamber's Kate Norfleet and Don Porter in an e-mail.
Hobson explained that the ferry's ticket salespeople were reluctant to collect a (25 cent) fee for the Port Authority which would be earmarked for maintenance of the Red Hook terminal.
The PA is going to go back to the ticket sellers to renegotiate with them, to eliminate the confusion of paying a ticket at one desk and then putting a coin in a turnstile for the Port Authority.
"The ticket sellers will most likely have to go before Public Service Commission for this to happen as the ticket price is controlled by PSC review and the perception that the ferry fee has increased illegally is of concern to the sellers," Porter and Norfleet explained. (And you can bet that some ferry riders would take out their frustration on ticket sellers, occasionally."
I have a couple of suggestions for the Red Hook Terminal
-How about a charge for the bathroom?(if you dare)
-How about a loitering charge? Locals only need pay
-How about slot machines at the terminal?
Quick question: Who collects the tax from the taxi services that drive to Red Hook and collect cash from everyone going to STJ? That should at least cover the 25 cent tax.
Why are people whining about 25 cents?
Dear Evan …
It’s not the 25 cents. It is the expectation (based on experience) that installing a turnstile into which you have to put a quarter, after you bought a ticket, will mean a clusterscrewup getting on the ferry. Experience suggests that soon after the turnstiles are installed (maybe even correctly!) they will stop working. Somebody’s quarter, or chewing gum stuffed into the slot, will jam it. So there will then have to be a walk-around, work-around, resulting in confusion. People with bags will be encumbered; late arrivals rushing to make the ferry’s departure will get aggravated going through the process …
Bottom line … as the Chamber said … having another obstacle between the visitor and the island is not a good idea.
Frank
Well put.