Complete Regional Transportation Plan 2012 - Cape Cod ...

2.5 WATER TRANSPORTATIONThe primary form of public water transportation on Cape Cod is ferry service, carryingpassengers between the mainland and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.A significant amount of freight is carried by water transportation as well. As a result, theregion’s seaports and channels are vital in addressing the economic and transportationneeds of Cape Cod.2.5.1 CAPE COD SEAPORTSCape Cod has 586 miles of tidal coastline, with many inlets and bays that provide marineaccess to the land. Seaports have been constructed along several of these bays and inletsto facilitate the transfer of people and goods from water to land transportation.Significant Cape Cod seaports are recognized in reports by the Army Corps of Engineers,the agency that maintains many of them. These and other seaports are discussed in thissection.2.5.1.1 Woods Hole HarborWoods Hole Harbor, located in Falmouth, is a primary seaport for Cape Cod. It is splitinto two harbors by Juniper Point: Great Harbor and Little Harbor (Figure 2 and Figure3). Little Harbor is located in the 550,000 square feet of water between Juniper andNobska Points. In 1906, the Army Corps of Engineers completed a 1,600 foot-longchannel from the Little Harbor to Vineyard Sound, as well as a turning basin. The CoastGuard widened and deepened both projects in the 1960s to a depth of 17 feet and a widthof 200 and 400 feet respectively. Located on the western side of Little Harbor is a CoastGuard station, which is also used for recreational purposes. Great Harbor is locatedbetween Penzance Point and Juniper Point. A bascule drawbridge separates GreatHarbor from Eel Pond to the north. Woods Hole Channel, which leads west to BuzzardsBay, connects at the southern end of Great Harbor. Many piers are located throughoutthe harbor, each with their own anchorages. Of the more significant ones are the 15-footdeep anchorage for the Steamship Authority ferries and the 22-foot deep anchorage forthe Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Great Harbor is home to ferry passengerservice, charter and sport fishing services, research vessels, and recreational boats.Charts of various ports shown in the following figures were produced by the NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coast and Geodetic Survey.Cape Cod Regional Transportation Plan | August 2011Chapter 2.5: Water TransportationPage 187