Casco Bay Lines (CBL) offers ferry service between Portland, Maine, USA and eight mostly otherwise inaccessible islands. Passenger, vehicle, and freight volumes on Casco Bay Lines are subject to seasonal variations, as the summer months attract heavy tourist traffic. CBL hired Steer as part of a team led by KPFF to develop a new schedule and fleet plan that accommodates seasonal variation in demand.
How we helped
Steer conducted an existing conditions analysis to fully understand and quantify the challenges Casco Bay Lines is facing with the existing schedule and fleet. In particular, the team outlined the capacity issues the system currently faces and developed a schedule and vessel strategy to address those issues.
Steer also developed demand models for the system. These econometrics models allowed the team to evaluate potential changes in fares, levels of service, and future economic outlook.
Successes and outcomes
These demand models are currently being used to evaluate new schedule and fleet options. The output of the project will be a final new schedule and suggestions for vessel size.