CLICK TO HEAR JACK HALL’S INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT MULLINS, NEEBISH ISLAND ADVOCATE
Following months of coordinated advocacy, Neebish Island residents are continuing to work with state and local officials to find a viable solution for the island’s lack of evening ferry service.
Thanks to negotiations brokered by State Sen. John Damoose, a plan has been put forward that would add a second shift and expand ferry service into the evening hours.
“The elimination of evening ferry service has been awful for island residents and made participating in normal life on the mainland incredibly difficult,” said Neebish Island Improvement Association President and full-time resident Phylis Reed. “Sen. Damoose visited the island this summer and saw first-hand the challenges with our ferry schedule, and we greatly appreciate his support in bringing all sides to the table to find a way to bring essential transportation service back to Neebish Island. Residents are glad to see our collective advocacy has yielded some positive movement toward a solution.”
Ferry service to Neebish Island is provided by the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA). In May of 2024, EUPTA cut the island’s ferry schedule, effectively creating a 7 p.m. curfew for island residents in the summer and 6 p.m. in the winter. Since the change, island residents have engaged in a vocal campaign, regularly attending EUPTA board meetings and raising awareness on social media about the hardships they face in attending doctor appointments, school and community activities, or even going out to dinner.
Neebish Island’s Scott Mullins, a seasonal resident, echoed Miller’s comments.
“Thanks to the leadership and problem-solving attitude of Sen. Damoose, EUPTA has come to the table and is working in good faith on a solution that will bring a more normal sense of life back to Neebish Island. While we don’t have a final permanent solution in place and nothing is guaranteed yet, a plan has been put forth to add a second shift to keep the ferry running longer, and Sen. Damoose and Rep. Fairbairn committed their support through the state budget process to help support the additional operations costs. While we know our leaders in Lansing are focused on a deal for state transportation funding, we hope they keep Neebish Island in their minds during their budget negotiations.”
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