Casco Bay’s Ferries

Crane Smith, the staff director for the Maine Senate Transportation Committee has hired you to analyze the proposal by the Maine Public Utility Commission to allow private operators to provide scheduled ferry service between the mainland and the Casco Bay islands. He is particularly interested in your analysis of the two currently popular proposals:

· Continue the CBITD monopoly on scheduled service but prohibit it from competing with private operators for excursion and charter service.

· Allow anyone to compete for scheduled service, but require all operators to offer year-round service.

Write a memo not to exceed 500 words to Mr. Smith where you evaluate the competing proposals.