Spring Updates 2023

Deliveries to Prudence Island

UPS/FedEx:

Items shipped via UPS and FedEx are covered under contracts with those shipping companies. These items arrive each afternoon on the package delivery truck. Please allow staff time in the afternoon to unload the truck before coming to ask for anticipated packages. Office staff will send a text message when your package is ready for pickup.


Entering the package truck while it is on the dock in Bristol is prohibited. The truck is private property and on camera. Please respect your island neighbors by not handling their items in the truck prior to delivery.


USPS:

Items shipped via US Mail are transported by ferry staff but must be picked up at the Prudence Island Post Office location at the Prudence Variety Store.


Alternate delivery services:

Items not arriving UPS/FedEx or USPS must be pre-arranged and pre-paid with the ferry office. Crew will not load items without arrangements made in advance. For safety reasons all items being shipped to Prudence Island should be clearly marked with the name and contact information of the person receiving the delivery. Unmarked or abandoned packages will be returned to the sender. 


Freight items:

To facilitate the transport of oversize items such as pallets, appliances, lumber, construction materials, landscaping equipment etc. please call the Prudence Office at 401-683-0430. With proper advanced notice crew may be available to assist in loading items if needed. A freight charge applies for majority of these items which must be paid in advance of delivery. 

Propane Grill Bottle Fill Day & Hazardous Materials

Prudence & Bay Islands Transport is partnering with the Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department and Propane Plus to host an on-island propane grill bottle fill day at the PIVFD station!


This event will take place Friday May 26th! Bring your existing grill bottles to be filled or purchase a new bottle at the event. Cash only (or current Propane Plus customers can be billed through their account). Propane Plus will also be taking old/damaged bottles to be safely disposed of at no cost. More announcements on this event to come via email, PBIT website and PIVFD Facebook posts.


Help us keep the ferry service safe and USCG compliant by using this event and not attempting to transport hazardous materials on passenger runs. Gasoline and propane are considered hazardous materials by the USCG and cannot be transported on-board public ferry runs with passengers. Customers carrying gasoline or propane will not be allowed to board with these items.

Bristol Terminal Upgrades

The Bristol waiting area and associated ferry terminal upgrades including new loading ramp gates and facility improvements will go out to bid in the coming weeks. This project will be funded by the Federal Highway Administration’s “Ferry Boat Program” and Rhode Island DOT. Bids will be accepted through the Town of Bristol’s bidnet direct page. 

 

There will be no interruptions to service during construction and we will continue to post updates as we receive them. We are looking forward to having a comfortable waiting area for customers on the Bristol side!

Summer Schedule

The ferry schedule is currently open through June.


Please make all reservations in advance to guarantee your travel, and to help us gauge where additional ferry runs may be helpful.


The summer schedule will open in May for July and August booking.

Book Now

New Vessel Aquisition

Word is getting around!


A&R Marine has acquired a surplus ferry vessel with the goal of retrofitting it for use in our service in the years to come.


We will provide more updates as this project progresses.

Parking in Bristol

There will soon be a Live Parking spot for PBIT customer usage in the marina parking lot. We are working with the Town of Bristol on the location for the space and aim to have it in effect for Memorial Day weekend. We expect this spot to be busy around ferry times so please load/unload quickly to allow for other customers to use the space as well.


A date has not been set for the opening of the parking lot across the street from the ferry, if we hear of a date we will post it on our website.


We have been told to expect increased enforcement of the 2 hour parking signs in close proximity to the Bristol ferry terminal this season.


Prudence & Bay Island's Transport owns/manages no parking spots in Bristol. Please contact the town for any questions relating to street or public parking. 

From Officer Tavernier

Golf Cart and low speed vehicle registrations are due this Spring. All golf carts and low speed vehicles operating on the street must be inspected and receive a registration sticker.


Please contact Officer Tavernier to get your registration sticker for golf cart / low speed vehicles. He will be available at ferry times to setup an inspection of your low speed vehicle.

Visit our Website for a list of Prudence Island Community Events taking place this Spring and Summer!