Boston Harbor Now

Put office workers on boats

An MBTA ferry arrives at Rowe’s Wharf, on the Boston waterfront. It’s named after a popular historian of the New England coast.

An MBTA ferry arrives at Rowe’s Wharf, on the Boston waterfront. It’s named after a popular historian of the New England coast.

Adapted from Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,’’ in GoLocal24.com

Now, this is the way to get people to use mass transit: A bunch of companies in Boston’s Seaport District have arranged for a new ferry service between the district and North Station to only cost $5 for a one-way ticket instead of the $13 it costs now. The service is basically geared to the eight companies’ employees, though there will be space for other people, too. Now they’ll be able to avoid some of the headaches of ground transport in downtown Boston, and this will reduce the number of congestion-and-pollution-causing corporate shuttle buses carrying folks between North Station and the Seaport.

Meanwhile, Boston Harbor Now is promoting two new ferry routes to state officials: one linking some Boston Harbor wharves and the other connecting with Quincy. The more cars off the road the better, and most ferry travelers arrive at their destinations happier than if they drive or take a bus.