Council to Discuss Fate of Prudence Island Ferry Today

The Portsmouth Town Council will convene on Saturday on Prudence Island with ferry service to and from the mainland topping the agenda.

The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. at the Prudence Island Improvement Association Building, 620 Narragansett Ave., Prudence Island. There is a 1:30 p.m. ferry that leaves from the Church Street Wharf in Bristol. The ferry ride lasts about 25 minutes and travelers should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.

After ferry operator Bruce Medley announced he would retire and cease operations on Dec. 1, the town of Bristol bought the the Prudence Island Ferry dock and parking lot on Thames Street from him for $800,000. Portsmouth issued a request for proposals for ferry service to continue to serve Prudence Island residents whose only means of transportation on and off of the island is the ferry.

Although Bristol purchased all 65 - 70 parking spots available in the Thames Street lot, parking agreements with Prudence Island residents for about 25 spaces will be honored through the terms of their lease, according to The Sakonnet Times. The details of the new parking fee structure will be discussed at the Saturday meeting.

In other business, the council will give an update on the bids received by the town to fix the broken at the wind turbine at the high school.