Drew Rollert, founder of electric ferry startup WadaHoppah, will discuss his proposed Charles River service at the Newtonville Area Council meeting Wednesday, Nov. 4.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Cooper Center for Active Living and is also available by Zoom, according to the meeting notice published by Fig City News.
The boat and proposed service
WadaHoppah’s prototype is a 36-foot battery-electric vessel built by Concord-based Inriver Tank and Boat. Its shallow hull and stern design are intended to minimize wake, WorkBoat reported.
The proposed route connects Watertown Square with North Station and TD Garden, with intermediate stops in Boston and Cambridge.
Rollert told MassLive the boat was designed for 15 passengers, wheelchair access and bicycles. He estimated construction costs approaching $500,000, funded through sponsorships, according to the outlet’s July report.
Permitting remains a question
As of MassLive’s late-September reporting, the ferry had not carried a paying passenger and was awaiting permission to use docks managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Its current permitting status has not been confirmed.
Rollert described an initial six-passenger pilot, with anticipated fares of $15–$20 and proposed operating hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
He identified dock accessibility requirements as the central obstacle. DCR said it was assessing compatibility and accessibility at several docks and reviewing the company’s operating plan, according to the MassLive report republished by Mass Transit.
Other council business
The council will discuss next steps for Washington Street pilot feedback, elect a treasurer and hear updates on the Bullough’s Pond Dam Working Group and from the mayor’s office. Cara Bertone is the listed treasurer candidate.
Three Washington Street feedback sessions are scheduled:
- Nov. 6: 10–11 a.m., City Hall Room 204.
- Nov. 12: 6–7 p.m., via Zoom.
- Nov. 18: 4–5 p.m., City Hall Room 204.
The council’s next meeting is listed for Dec. 9 at the Cooper Center.
