Editing Salem, Massachusetts (section)

===Transportation===
====Roads====
[[File:Veterans Memorial Bridge.JPG|thumb|Veterans Memorial Bridge between Salem and [[Beverly, Massachusetts|Beverly]]]]

The connection between Salem and Beverly is made across the Danvers River and Beverly Harbor by three bridges, the Kernwood Bridge to the west, and a railroad bridge and the Essex Bridge, from the land between Collins Cove and the North River, to the east. The [[Veterans Memorial Bridge (Essex County, Massachusetts)|Veterans Memorial Bridge]] carries [[Massachusetts Route 1A]] across the river. Route 1A passes through the eastern side of the city, through South Salem towards Swampscott. For much of its length in the city, it is coextensive with [[Massachusetts Route 114|Route 114]], which goes north from Marblehead before merging with Route 1A, and then heading northwest from downtown towards Lawrence. [[Massachusetts Route 107|Route 107]] also passes through town, entering from Lynn in the southwest corner of the city before heading towards its intersection with Route 114 and terminating at Route 1A. There is no highway access within the city; the nearest highway access to [[Massachusetts Route 128|Route 128]] is along Route 114 in neighboring Peabody.

====Rail====
Salem has a [[Salem (MBTA station)|station]] on the [[Newburyport/Rockport Line]] of the [[MBTA Commuter Rail]]. The railroad lines are also connected to a semi-abandoned portion of freight lines which lead into Peabody, and a former line into Marblehead has been converted into a bike path. There are talks of potentially establishing a [[South Salem station]], which would be located on Ocean Avenue West and provide more efficient transportation to South Salem and students at [[Salem State University]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=McHugh |first1=Michael |title=Markey, Moulton tour site of future commuter rail station |url=https://www.salemnews.com/news/markey-moulton-tour-site-of-future-commuter-rail-station/article_613b40d2-55dc-11ef-bafa-b35714efbe3b.html |website=Salem News |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>

====Bus====
Several [[List of MBTA bus routes#411-465|MBTA Bus]] routes pass through the city. Route 435 starts at Salem station and continues along North Street through North Salem to [[Danvers, Massachusetts|Danvers]]. Route 450 starts at Salem station and continues through [[Federal Street District|Federal Street]] and along Highland Avenue in Southwest Salem, continuing to [[Lynn, Massachusetts|Lynn]].<ref>{{cite web |title=450 |url=https://www.mbta.com/schedules/450/line |website=MBTA |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref> Route 451 starts at Salem station and goes through Downtown Salem before continuing along Bridge Street to [[Beverly, Massachusetts|Beverly]].<ref>{{cite web |title=451 |url=https://www.mbta.com/schedules/451/line |publisher=MBTA |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref> Route 455 starts at Salem station and runs along Lafayette street and Loring avenue through South Salem and by the campus of Salem State University, continuing into [[Swampscott, Massachusetts|Swampscott]].<ref>{{cite web |title=455 |url=https://www.mbta.com/schedules/455/line |publisher=MBTA |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref> Route 456 follows the same route as Route 450 inside the city of Salem, diverting to [[Lynn station]] after entering Lynn.<ref>{{cite web |title=456 |url=https://www.mbta.com/schedules/456/line |publisher=MBTA |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>

Students of Salem State University are additionally able to request a student-driven shuttle bus that takes them between the various campuses of the university as well as Downtown Salem.<ref>{{cite web |title=Take the Shuttle |url=https://ask.salemstate.edu/kb/take-shuttle |publisher=Salem State University |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>

==== Salem Skipper ====
The City of Salem launched a microtransit network called the Salem Skipper in December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=StackPath|url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/alt-mobility/press-release/21202027/via-transportation-salem-mass-readies-for-salem-skipper-start-on-dec-16|access-date=2022-01-13|website=www.masstransitmag.com|date=December 11, 2020 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2020-12-09|title=City of Salem launches the Salem Skipper: on-demand transit for residents, commuters|url=https://ridewithvia.com/news/city-of-salem-launches-the-salem-skipper-on-demand-transit-for-residents-commuters/|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Via Transportation|language=en-US}}</ref> The on-demand transit network is operated by [[Via Transportation|Via]] and allows riders to share the same vehicle for approximately the same price as a [[MBTA bus|MBTA Bus]] ticket. Passengers can hail a ride on their [[mobile device]] with the Salem Skipper app, or by calling a dispatcher.<ref name=":1" />

====Airports====
The nearest [[general aviation]] airport is [[Beverly Municipal Airport]], and the nearest commercial airline service for national and international flights is at Boston's [[Logan International Airport]].

====The Salem Ferry====

The ''Nathaniel Bowditch'' is a {{convert|92|ft|adj=on}} high-speed [[catamaran]] that travels from Salem to Boston in 50 minutes from May to October and had its maiden voyage on June 22, 2006. The Salem Ferry is named after [[Nathaniel Bowditch]], who was from Salem and wrote the ''[[American Practical Navigator]]''.<ref name="The Salem Harbor Plan">{{cite web |url=http://www.salempartnership.org/wharf.htm |title=The Salem Harbor Plan |publisher=The Salem Partnership |date=2006-06-22 |access-date=2012-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303142727/http://www.salempartnership.org/wharf.htm |archive-date=2012-03-03  }}</ref> Ridership increased every year from 2006 to 2010, when it peaked with 89,000, but in 2011 service was cut back because of the dramatic rise in fuel prices.<ref name="Salemnews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1095948107/Salem-ferry-cuts-back-to-three-days-a-week |title=Salem ferry cuts back to three days a week » Local News » SalemNews.com, Salem, MA |publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-30 |access-date=2012-09-03}}</ref><ref name="Salem may dump ferry operator">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1940327042/Salem-may-dump-ferry-operator |title=Salem may dump ferry operator|publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-30 |access-date=2012-09-03}}</ref> The Salem Ferry is docked at the [[Derby Waterfront District]].<ref name="bostonharborcruises.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/salem-ferry/salem-ferry/|title=Salem Ferry|website=Boston Harbor Cruises|access-date=2016-11-01|archive-date=2018-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208194908/http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/salem-ferry/salem-ferry/}}</ref>

The ferry was purchased by the City of Salem with the use of grant money that covered 90 percent of the $2.1 million purchase price.<ref name="http">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1437249329/Salem-ferry-operator-Its-not-working-out |title=Salem ferry operator: 'It's not working out' » Local News » SalemNews.com, Salem, MA |publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-30 |access-date=2012-09-03}}</ref> Because of the cutback in service during the 2011 season, Mayor [[Kim Driscoll]] is now seeking a new operator who can run the ferry seven days a week from May to October.<ref name="The Salem Ferry">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemferry.com/ |title=The Salem Ferry |publisher=The Salem Ferry |access-date=2012-11-10}}</ref>

For the 2012 season Boston Harbor Cruises took over the running of the Salem Ferry with seven-day service and a Monday to Friday 7 a.m. commuter ferry to Boston.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1585742337/Commuter-trip-is-in-ferry-bid |title=Commuter trip is in ferry bid » Local News » SalemNews.com, Salem, MA |publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-30 |access-date=2012-09-03}}</ref> The Salem Ferry will be running seven days a week for the 2012 season starting the first weekend in June and going through to Halloween.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x234167886/Salem-ferry-delayed |title=Salem ferry delayed » Local News » SalemNews.com, Salem, MA |publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-30 |access-date=2012-09-03}}</ref>

Boston Harbor Cruises, the contractor that operates the city's commuter ferry to Boston, runs their largest and fastest vessel between Salem and [[Hingham, Massachusetts|Hingham]] for the last two weekends in October. The company's high-speed ferry service to [[Provincetown, Massachusetts|Provincetown]] concludes in October, freeing up its 600-passenger boat for service between Salem and Hingham. The ferry ride between Hingham and Salem takes one hour. With traffic, especially around Halloween, the drive between Salem and Hingham could be three hours or more.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x321547697/Ferry-to-run-between-Salem-and-South-Shore-for-Halloween/print |title=Ferry to run between Salem and South Shore for Halloween |publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-27 |access-date=2012-11-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/boats/|title=Ferry – Schedules & Maps|first=Massachusetts Bay Transportation|last=Authority|website=www.mbta.com}}</ref>

For the 2013 season, service was expected to start in the last week of May. The Salem City councilors approved a five-year contract with Boston Harbor Cruises to operate the city's commuter ferry from 2013 to 2017.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1503760810/Salem-ferry-to-get-five-year-contract|title=Salem ferry to get five-year contract|first=Bethany|last=Bray|newspaper=Salem News|date=4 March 2013 }}</ref> Also new for the 2013 season, Boston Harbor Cruises will offer a 20 percent discount to Salem residents for non-commuter tickets. The City of Salem has approved a seasonal restaurant with a liquor license at The Salem Ferry dock to be operated by Boston Harbor Cruises. The plan is to build a {{convert|600|sqft|adj=on}} building plus patio seating.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1169349316/Ferry-operator-looks-to-open-wharf-side-eatery|title=Ferry operator looks to open wharf-side eatery|first=Bethany|last=Bray|newspaper=Salem News|date=8 May 2013 }}</ref>

The latest data from 2015 point to 61,000 riders, with around 11,000 being commuters,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.salemnews.com/gallery/photos-a-ride-on-the-salem-ferry/collection_bb796bf8-5d0d-11e6-9fe2-6f2d892ef9c3.html|title=PHOTOS: A ride on the Salem Ferry|website=Salem News|date=7 August 2016 }}</ref> according to Boston Harbor Cruises, which runs the Salem Ferry.<ref name="bostonharborcruises.com"/>

====Electric car charge program====

Salem has eight stations where drivers can charge their electric cars. Four are located at the Museum Place Mall near the Peabody Essex Museum and the other four are in the South Harbor garage across the street from the Salem Waterfront Hotel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://salem.patch.com/articles/salem-installs-vehicle-charging-stations|title=Salem Installs Vehicle Charging Stations|work=Salem, Massachusetts Patch|date=18 December 2012}}</ref> The program started in January 2013 and will be free of charge for two years, allowing people to charge their [[electric cars]] and other [[electric vehicle]]s for up to six hours. This program was paid for by a [[Grant money|grant]] from the state of [[Massachusetts]] due to Salem's status as a Massachusetts Green Community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mass.gov/eea/energy-utilities-clean-tech/green-communities/|title=Green Communities|work=Energy and Environmental Affairs}}</ref>