Water Transit Month
An annual celebration of one of Boston's greatest resources: water transit.
#WTMBoston
July is Water Transit Month.
Every year, Seaport TMA, A Better City TMA, and Lower Mystic TMA team up for a month-long celebration of water transportation in the Greater Boston Area. Throughout the month of July, we will be hosting a weekly photo contest to highlight all the great ways people are traveling on the water, hosting a dockside fair, and more.
Whether you are a regular ferry rider, an occasional water taxi user, or completely new to water transit, we want you to get outside and share our excitement for one of Boston’s most unique forms of transportation.
If you have questions, email us at WTMBoston@SeaportTMA.org.
Photo Contests
Capture some of your favorite images of water transportation and post them to your social media with the hashtag #WTMBoston to enter the contest. If your profile is private, email your submissions to WTMBoston@SeaportTMA.org. We will be giving away exciting water-themed prizes to each winner. The names of contest winners will be selected at the end of each entry period, and the grand prize winner will be selected on August 2.
Contest 1 (7/1-13): $100 gift card to The Barking Crab
Contest 2 (7/14-20): New England Aquarium one-year membership for 4
Contest 3 (7/20-27): $100 gift card to Night Shift Brewing
Grand Prize (7/1-31): Two tickets for the Provincetown Ferry
To learn more about the specifics of the photo contest and events, follow us on social media (@abctma @lowermystictma @seaporttma) or this webpage.
See what everyone’s posting or check out last year’s entries.
Events
Water Transportation Fair
July 12, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (rain date: July 19)
Christopher Columbus Park/Long Wharf
Celebrate the best way to get around Boston! Win fabulous prizes and participate in photo ops. Find out about all the different water transportation options the Harbor offers and how you can use it to commute, visit local restaurants, visit the Harbor Islands, get to the airport, and more. Learn about the Sumner Tunnel closure and how you can avoid the traffic disruption by cruising on the Harbor. Guests and raffle prizes to be announced.
Webinar: The Past, Present, and Future of Water Transit in Greater Boston
July 16, 2024 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Ferries have long been part of Boston's history, from having the first ferry in the United States in 1631 to the resurgence of water transit in 2024. Tune into this webinar to learn about the past, present, and future of ferry operations from our esteemed panel, which includes water transit experts, changemakers, and ferry operators as we explore how ferries and water transit can shape our region’s transportation and connect our coastal communities.
Panelists include:
Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now
Dave Perry, Director of Ferry Operations of the MBTA
Bob Lawler, Vice President and General Manager of Boston Harbor City Cruises
Water Transit History Spotlights
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THE FIRST FERRY
The country’s first ferry was established right here in Greater Boston. The Winnisimmet Ferry began service in 1631 and went from Chelsea to the North End. The service operated until 1917.
The ferry temporarily started up again in 1990 during the Big Dig project and traveled from Chelsea to Rowes Wharf.
Today, the free Encore water shuttle is the only public ferry operating on the Mystic River.
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CONNECTIONS
Dating back to the 1800s, the Nantasket Steamboat and Boston & Hingham Steamboat Companies provided regular ferry service between Hull, Hingham, and Rowe’s Wharf.
During the mid-1900s, the dissolution of railroads connecting to the ferries and the rise of the automobile resulted in a reduction in ridership and weekday service, and the elimination of weekend service on the Hingham and Hull ferries.
In 1984, service returned on the Hingham and Hull Ferry to provide more transit options during the reconstruction of the Southeast Expressway on I-93. Through the 1990s and 2000s, the MBTA continued to provide weekday service on the Hingham and Hull Ferry routes.
Today, Boston Harbor Cruises operates all MBTA Hingham/Hull vessels and maintains consistent 7-day service on ferry routes connecting Boston, Hingham, and Hull.
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RETURN
The East Boston Ferry began service in 1835, carrying passengers across the Harbor to the North End for just one cent.
When the Sumner Tunnel was constructed in 1930 and the automobile’s popularity increased, demand for the ferry began to dwindle. It ultimately ceased operations in 1952.
Ferry service to East Boston returned nearly 70 years later in 2021 when the Seaport Ferry began its route between East Boston and the Seaport. In 2023, the MBTA relaunched the original route, with demand still on the rise due to—almost ironically—travelers looking for an alternative to traffic in the tunnels.
Ride the waves.
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Seaport Ferry
Ride the Seaport Ferry between Fan Pier and Lovejoy Wharf (North Station) or Lewis Mall (East Boston).
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MBTA Ferries
Ride the MBTA Ferries between Downtown Boston and Charlestown, East Boston, Logan Airport, Lynn, Hingham, Hull, Winthrop, or Quincy.
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Salem Ferry
The Salem Ferry travels between Long Wharf and Salem.
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Encore Boston Harbor Water Shuttle
A luxurious free ride between Long Wharf or Lovejoy Wharf and Encore Boston Harbor.
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Boston Harbor Islands
Take the Boston Harbor Islands Ferry to Spectacle, Georges, Peddocks, or Thompson Islands.
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Provincetown Fast Ferry
Travel between Seaport and Provincetown on the Fast Ferry.
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Navy Yard Hospitality Group Water Taxi
A water taxi connects ReelHouse (Fan Pier/Seaport), ReelHouse (East Boston - New St.), Tall Ship (East Boston - Lewis Mall), and Pier 6 (Charlestown Marina) restaurants, weather-permitting. Find your stop.
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Boston Water Bus
The Boston Water Bus operates on a fixed schedule and will take you between Long Wharf, Seaport, and Logan Airport.
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Boston Water Taxi
On-demand service from 25 locations along the Harbor.
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Ticket to Skip at Logan Airport
Anyone traveling to the airport by water transportation will receive a “Ticket to Skip” to the front of the airport TSA security line.