A pair of ferries that will shuttle people between Pawtucket and downtown Providence starting July 1 have been named.
The Hope and The Renaissance were the winning names in a contest held by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. Ellen Carr of Pawtucket, Roberta O’Keefe of North Smithfield and Lillian Poulin of Lincoln get the credit. Each winner will get a complimentary cruise for 49 people aboard the shuttle they named.
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“We chose the names for the new shuttles to reflect Rhode Island’s history and the future direction,” said Council President Robert D. Billington. “The Hope refers to the motto found on our state’s official emblems and state seal. The Renaissance was chosen because of the major revitalization happening in Providence and Pawtucket.
“These names also connect to the millennium with an exciting way for people to experience a stress-free way to work by using inter-modal seamless transportation in cooperation with RIPTA,” Billington said.
The a round-trip ticket for the shuttle will cost $4 and include free parking.
The Hope and The Renaissance are being built by SkipperLiner Industries of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Each will carry 49 passengers and offer aircraft-style seating, air conditioning, beverage bar, coffee service and full amenities.
The ferries will operate simultaneously from Town Landing in Pawtucket to Point Street Landing in downtown Providence. The boats will be operated by WaterCruises of Rhode Island, LLC, a partnership between the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and Conway Gray Line of Cumberland.
During the morning and afternoon drive times, the boats will serve commuters traveling to the two downtown areas. Land shuttle service to other areas around Providence and Pawtucket will be provided by the RI Public Transit Authority.
In the off-peak hours, shuttles will serve passengers traveling to high-traffic areas including Pawtucket, Providence Place mall, the Rhode Island Convention Center, the City of Warwick, South County and other business and cultural destinations on Narragansett Bay.
“The ferries are being built under an $875,000 federal inter-modal transportation demonstration grant provided by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration,” Billington said.
For more information on the shuttle service call 724-2200.
