2005-2010 Long Range Strategic Plan

A. Mission Statement

The Maine Legislature created the Casco Bay Island Transit District to furnish waterborne transportation to the islands of Casco Bay for public purposes, in the interest of public health, safety, comfort and convenience of the inhabitants of the islands comprising the District. Our Mission is, then, to provide sufficient dependable, reliable service in a safe and secure manner, as affordably as possible, so as to preserve our year-round island communities. CBITD shall also provide incidental tour and charter services to residents of and visitors to the Casco Bay region to enhance the quality and security of the District's regular service to the islands.

B. Goals and Strategies

1. Safety and Security

Primary Goal (and primary measure of success): Maintain or reduce passenger and employee injuries. This will be measured through industry-recognized criteria and compared to an average of the previous 3 years.

Additional Goal: Improve, in cooperation with others, the safe movement of pedestrians, customers, vehicles, and freight on the vessels and at the Portland terminal and island wharfs.

Additional Goal: Keep our operation as secure as reasonably possible while also being open and user-friendly and not personally intrusive.

Key Strategies:

• Continue planning, funding and construction of the Ferry Terminal expansion.
• Conduct necessary training and communication of best practices in these fields.
• Reinforce supervisory responsibility for the safety and training of their subordinates and review adherence through annual performance appraisals.

2. Dependable, Reliable Service

Primary Goal: Maintain current level of dependable, reliable service. This will be measured by comparing the number of missed trips or breakdowns per hour operated to the average of the previous 3 years.

Additional Goal: Maintain current level of service to all islands, for every season, except where demographic or other external circumstances may make changes necessary. This will be measured by comparing the number of trips operated to the previous year.

Additional Goal: Provide friendly, on-time service from clean and functional facilities and equipment. This will be measured by comparing customer complaints and suggestions to those of previous years, and by conducting inspections that will be compared to previous years.

Key Strategies:

• Provide timely and improved communications, at least bi-weekly, with both internal and external customers.
• Plan for and seek funding to replace or upgrade vessels and equipment.

3. Fares Affordable, Reasonably Priced and Equitable

Primary Goal (and primary measure of success): Ensure that commuter rates for the 2005-2010 period will not exceed the rate of inflation (CPI) over the same time period.

Additional Goal: Ensure that commuter rates, as currently designed, will remain equitable between the islands.

Key Strategies:

• Obtain grants by attending to relations with governmental entities and agencies, in part by maintaining a leadership role in the PACTS planning process.
• Conduct annual review of rates and costs through the CBITD Board Committees with an emphasis on maintaining financial stability and fairness.
• Improve efficiency through the use of technology in a cost-effective manner.

4. Environmental and Ethical Responsibility

Primary Goal (and primary measure of success): Operate vessels in an environmentally responsible way so as to reduce emissions and impact on the environment and improve fuel economy.

Additional Goal: Cooperate with other transportation providers for integration of transportation modes.

Additional Goal: Continue to operate the business in an ethical manner.

Key Strategies:

• Replace vessels and equipment with those having lower emissions.
• Operate vessels in a manner that maximizes fuel efficiency while maintaining service schedules.
• Use timely communications to report District business decisions to ensure transparency.
• Continue to support intermodal regional transportation.

Vision Statement

"We are a safe, reliable, clean operation that cares about its customers and the community it serves. Our employees feel empowered, valued and respected in a work environment that is open, responsive and ethical. Technology is used to enhance communication and business opportunities."

Statement of Non-Discrimination

"No person on the basis of race, color, national origin, or transportation disability will be subjected to discrimination in the level and quality of transportation services and transit related benefits.

Any person or persons who believe that there is such discrimination may file a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration and/or the U.S. Department of Transportation."

We provide year-round ferry services, scenic cruises and boat tours from Portland, Maine to the islands of Casco Bay such as
Peaks Island, Little Diamond Island, Great Diamond Island, Chebeague Island, Diamond Cove, Long Island and Bailey Island.
We also offer scenic cruises, summer-time music cruises, private charters and lobster bakes. Join us and see where the Maine coast really begins!
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Ferry Terminal: 56 Commercial Street, Portland, Maine | Mailing Address:P.O. Box 4656, Portland, ME 04112-4656
Phone: (207) 774-7871 | Fax: (207) 774-7875 | Email:info@cascobaylines.com