Several people held an informational picket Tuesday morning in front of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) building to protest schedule changes to the Neebish Island ferry service.
It was held 30 minutes before the official board meeting started at 10:30 a.m.
The protest, however, had no effect on the final outcome of the board's decision.
The EUPTA board voted unanimously to eliminate the ferry service after the 7 p.m. run Monday through Friday.
The next run would start at 6:30 a.m.
On the weekends, the first run starts at 8 a.m. and the last one at 8 p.m.
EUPTA is financially and legally responsible for the Neebish Island ferry.
Executive Director of EUPTA, Pete Paramski, said it is not financially feasible to have one or two late evening runs because of lack of people that use it.
In addition, Paramski reiterated that EUPTA was out of Coast Guard compliance regarding the ferry crew exceeding hours past their schedule 12-hour shift.
Paramski's hands are tied on how to accommodate the wants of island residents and visitors.
"The only solution is to put additional staff on. Along with additional staff comes additional funding and right now, we have to look at the cost-benefit and how many people are benefiting from the amount of money we need to pay for a second crew or a night crew," Paramski said.
In the April board meeting, Paramski said adding another shift and crew would cost them an additional half-million dollars a year.
Neebish Island has around 50 year-round residents, but the island population grows to nearly 600 in the summer months.
But some people are not giving up on getting the evening runs back.
Bev Eavou, who was their to support the residents, has faith.
"Where there is a will, there is a way. So, let's figure out something and somehow to work it out," Eavou said.
Paramski said the new schedule start date is expected to begin Friday, May 24, the start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
