COTA to meet with GRTA on ferry service

The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority will be meeting with the Guam Regional Transit Authority to discuss both resolutions adopted by the Guam and CNMI Legislatures that support the creation of a regional transportation between the CNMI and Guam.
COTA’s special assistant for public transportation Thomas Camacho said his office has planned for a conference call with the GRTA as a first step in responding to the Guam and CNMI resolutions calling for affordable alternative transportation system by means of ferry.

The discussions, he said, will be focus on a possible Guam-CNMI partnership, the lead grant applicant for Guam-CNMI ferry system feasibility study, and other related topics.

Guam senators introduced and adopted in January this year Senate Resolution 279-32, authored by Guam Sen. Tina Rose Barnes, which called for the Guam Legislature to support the promotion of a ferry service or other similar passenger and cargo service between Guam and the CNMI.

Camacho himself testified in January on behalf of Gov. Eloy S. Inos about public and private partnerships being key to a CNMI-Guam ferry service. “There must be a convergence between private passenger boat operators who provide sterling customer service and the experience and skill of marine labor,” he said.

The CNMI Legislature followed suit with the adoption on Feb. 18, 2014, of Senate Resolution 18-26 titled: “To support alternative regional transportation between Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands through ferry service or by similar vessels.”

“This now just shows that the CNMI leaders are serious and committed toward supporting public transportation system for the Commonwealth,” Camacho said.

“It is fully adopted, so both Guam and CNMI support ferries between Rota and Guam, now we have to proceed with GRTA, to work together and to meet with them and come up with a plan and discuss forming a regional advisory committee,” he said.

Benefits

SR 18-26 states that due to increasing demands of transporting goods and services as well as providing additional means of transportation, the addition of ferry services or similar vessels will be highly beneficial to the promotion of inter-island trade between Guam and the CNMI.

Creating this transport system is seen as a means for Guam and the CNMI to ultimately expand the tourism market as well as infuse new money into both economies, and will not only supplement air travel but can also be used as a source of inter-island commuter service for work, delivery service, tourist attraction and for emergency responses.

“COTA and CPTAB stand ready to work with our leaders, regional partner such as the Guam Regional Transit Authority and their leaders in moving forward with this exciting but challenging task,” Camacho said. “With all the right players on board and the right planning, we will realize this major good for both the CNMI and Guam residents and visitors alike, especially our neighboring island of Rota…a ferry system feasibility study is a must for both Saipan-Tinian and CNMI-Guam ferry system.”