Mackinac Island Transportation Authority Announces Completion of Transportation Master Plan

Key needs and goals identified through community and stakeholder engagement included:
• Increase number and frequency of winter sailings, including Sunday service
• Increase winter service reliability, including ice and inclement weather capability
• Provide earlier and later sailing times throughout the year
• Improve aging vessel fleet, including winter service vessels
• Increase availability and reduce cost of long-term covered/indoor parking
• Reduce system capital and operating costs through realized efficiencies

Key recommendations of the Master Plan include:
• Expansion of ferry service year-round with earlier morning and later evening sailings
• Expansion of winter ferry service with additional Monday-Saturday daily sailings, and new Sunday sailings
• Modernization of the ferry fleet for increased capability, reliability, and environmental sustainability while reducing operating and maintenance costs
• Increase system efficiency through combined passenger and freight service on select vessels
• Realize ferry system cost reductions through ferry operator collaboration of schedules, staffing, fleet resources, purchasing, and other efficiencies
• Harness financial tools available through MITA governance and public/private partnerships for funding of system improvements and reduction of ticket fares

More information about the Master Plan, including a downloadable version of the complete Master Plan document, can be found at (www.mackinactransit.org). Questions may be directed to Katie Pereny at kep@mackinactransit.org.