Pricey place to visit on summer weekends - bus shuttle is a financial alternative.
Crane Beach is no secret in the summer. Pick a hot weekend day from June 20th – September 7th to visit that beach and you’ll join a vehicle caravan on Argilla Road in Ipswich.
$22 later you have a parking place, if there are any available.
The high price and the possibility of not even being able to get on the beach would suggest that other ways to get to Crane’s should be considered by non-residents (Ipswich residents get in on a sticker.).
One of the under-known alternatives is the Ipswich/Essex Explorer. This is a weekend/holiday bus shuttle that ties in with the commuter rail service from Boston.
I spoke with Bill Nelson (manager of the Visitor’s Center in Ipswich) about the bus service. “It is one of those things that not too many people know about but should,” he said.
There is no question that the price is right – $5. The way it works is that when the train from Boston arrives in Ipswich during weekends and holidays between June 20th and September 7th, a Cape Ann Transportation Bus is there waiting.
The 35-seat bus, with room for beach paraphernalia, has a schedule that not only includes Crane Beach, but also Russell Orchard, and sites in Essex such as Woodman’s, just to mention some of its stops.
The bus doesn’t stay at these sites. It drops off passengers at the site of their choice. Obviously, it is important to know when the bus is scheduled to return.
The Crane Beach part of the trip is especially attractive. The $5 paid at the Ipswich train station gets you onto Crane Beach. But what if the parking lot is full and cars are being detoured back at Northgate Road? Not a problem. The shuttle bus is still allowed to drive in and discharge passengers.
There are first-time visitors who arrive in Ipswich via train and think that they will walk to Crane Beach the same way they walk from the Manchester train station to Singing Beach. “Crane Beach is six miles from the train station,” explained Bill Nelson, “and a taxi will cost close to $25. This all makes the bus shuttle very appealing.”
The Ipswich/Essex Explorer bus shuttle is in its fourth year. “It came about as part of a CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) grant,” Bob Ryan recalled. “The idea was to promote less car use by providing travel alternatives for groups of people, many coming out from Boston.”
Bob added that, “We’ve been running a similar service in Rockport since 1994.”
Bill Nelson explained that some people drive their cars to the Ipswich station and wait for the bus. “There is no fee to park in the Ipswich lot because the town owns it. Other people drive toward Crane Beach, find out it is full, and then come back to the station and wait for the bus.”
A check of the MBTA website shows when the commuter trains arrive in Ipswich from Boston from June 20th – September 7th on holidays and weekends. Whenever that train arrives in Ipswich from Boston, the bus shuttle will be there.
Bill told me that any questions about the shuttle service can be answered at the Ipswich Visitor’s Center. “After Memorial Day we are open seven days a week from 9-5.” Their phone number is (978-356-8540).
Bob Ryan was very positive about Ipswich/Essex shuttle. He did, however, mention one very significant concern. “We don’t know what the state will do about the transportation deficit,” he said. “One of the suggestions is to eliminate the commuter rail on the weekends. Obviously, if that happens the Ipswich/Essex Explorer bus shuttle won’t be operating.”
The next fiscal year starts on July 1st so decisions about the commuter rail service will be made soon. Many potential summertime Ipswich/Essex tourists are hoping that a bargain like the bus shuttle continues to operate when state budget matters are settled.
( Appeared in The Town Common on May 20th )
McClelland Miscellanea 