1. 2016 Mid-Season Ferry Analysis Summary
July’s Actual Numbers vs RIPTA Ferry & Seastreak’s Projections:
 RIPTA Ferry Ridership: 11,935
 Seastreak’s Projection: 12,293
 Actual July Ridership: 15,372
 % Difference Between Actual and RIPTA Ferry: 28.80%
 % Difference Between Actual and Seastreak’s projection: 25.05%
Note: The RIPTA Providence-Newport Ferry ran from 2000 to 2008. RIPTA Ferry
ridership figures used in this analysis come from 2008 annual report.
Note: The Seastreak projection comes from Seastreak’s cost proposal. All Seastreak
projections in this analysis come from their cost proposal.
Projections for August and Early September (through Labor Day):
 Note that August projections include actual ridership for August 1st through August 4th.
 August Projection #1: 15,283
August Projection #1 is based on average daily ridership numbers from July. This
projection is a conservative one.
 August Projection #2: 16,290
August Projection #2 is an increase of 5.97% from July’s ridership. This percentage is an
average of the RIPTA Ferry and Seastreak’s projected increases from July to August. I
made this second August projection because the first projection seems a little low
(August projection #1 is slightly lower than actual July ridership). Given the general
upward trend of ridership (see July Ridership Progression tab) I think August ridership
might top July’s. So this projection is more optimistic.
 September Projection: 2,881
This projection is based on a combination of average daily ridership for July and
ridership numbers from July 4th weekend. I used average daily ridership to estimate
ridership for September 1st and 2nd because those averages were higher than the actual
July 4th weekend ridership numbers from those prospective days (Thursday and Friday).
To estimate ridership for September 3rd, 4th, and 5th, I used the July 4th weekend numbers.
August, Early September, and SeasonProjections vs Seastreak’s Projections:

2. August
 Projection #1 (conservative): 15,283
 Projection #2 (optimistic): 16,290
 RIPTA Ferry Ridership: 12,580
 Seastreak’s Projection: 13,097
Early September (through Labor Day)
 Projection: 2,881
 RIPTA Ferry Ridership: 1,442
 Seastreak’s Optimistic Projection: 2,891
Season
 Projection #1(conservative): 33,536
 Projection #2 (optimistic): 34,543
 RIPTA Ferry Ridership: 25,957
 Seastreak’s Projection: 28,281
Anticipated Revenue and After-Tax Net Income (from Seastreak’s original cost proposal):
Revenue
 Projection #1 (conservative): $330,498
 Projection #2 (optimistic): $340,412
 RIPTA Ferry Ridership: $255,809
 Seastreak’s Projection: $278,703
 % Difference between Projection #1 and RIPTA Ferry: 29.20%
 % Difference between Projection #2 and RIPTA Ferry: 33.07%
 % Difference between Projection #1 and Seastreak’s Projection: 18.58%
 % Difference between Projection #2 and Seastreak’s Projection: 22.14%
After-Tax Net Income
 Projection #1 (conservative): $119,067
 Projection #2 (optimistic): $123,825
 RIPTA Ferry Ridership: $83,216
 Seastreak’s Projection: $94,205
 % Difference between Projection #1 and RIPTA Ferry: 43.08%
 % Difference between Projection #2 and RIPTA Ferry: 48.80%
 % Difference between Projection #1 and Seastreak’s Projection: 26.39%
 % Difference between Projection #2 and Seastreak’s Projection: 31.44%

3. SeasonRevenue and After-Tax Net Income Comparisons
Revenue
 Using a 60/40 ticket breakdown lowered season revenue by 6.25% from the 70/30 ticket
breakdown.
After-Tax Net Income
 Eliminating the participation payment increased the after-tax net income by 8.35%
Considering the change in ticket breakdown and the elimination of the participation payment
simultaneously
 RIPTA Ferry After-Tax Net Income increased by 0.78%
 Projection #1 After-Tax Net Income decreased by 1.23%
 Projection #2 After-Tax Net Income decreased by 0.82%
Note: Did not adjust Seastreak’s original cost proposal projections to reflect a 60/40 ticket
breakdown. Seastreak set a 70/30 ticket breakdown.
Providence Departures vs Newport Departures:
Average Daily Ridership
 Providence: 279
 Newport: 217
 % Difference: 28.14%
Average Weekly Ridership
 Providence: 1,950
 Newport: 1,521
 % Difference: 28.14%
Impact of Weather on Ridership:
July Weather
 22 Sunny Days
 7 Cloudy Days
 2 Rain Days
 Average Daily Ridership drops 31.78% when the weather is cloudy as opposed to sunny.
 Average Daily Ridership drops 53.17% when it rains as opposed to a sunny day.

4. Other Information:
 The most popular boat is the 10:00 am departing Providence. Across July it averaged 127
riders.
 The second most popular boat is the 6:15 pm departing Newport. This is a weekend boat.
Across July it averaged 115 riders.
 The day with the highest average ridership is Saturday. Across July it averaged 651 daily
riders.
 The weekday with the highest average ridership is Wednesday. Across July it averaged
569 daily riders. Wednesday was also the second most popular day overall (behind
Saturday) in terms of average daily ridership. Tuesday averaged the lowest daily riders at
358.
 Saturday has the highest sum of daily ridership across July. Second highest is Sunday,
and third highest is Wednesday. Tuesday is the lowest.
 Across July an average of 496 people took the ferry each day.
 Across July, an average of 3,471 people took the ferry each week.
 An average of 78 people departed Providence per boat.
 An average of 61 people departed Newport per boat.