I also hope this is not true - as a community we need this service.
If this is true ......
Timing is horrific - School starts shortly - Children are going to school on these boats - and the Xpress has given them attractive/subsidized rates so they can do that. Impact on northern properties/community ?? Big - it will be nearly impossible for families with children to live more than a short distance from town because their kids won't be able to get to and from school safely and affordably.
Community Safety will be impacted - big-time. Over the years Coastal Xpress (especially Eddie Ancona - thank you Eddie!) has pitched in to provide emergency ambulance-type runs for health issues - I know this for a fact - I was picked up in the middle of the night in a storm whilst having a severe gall-bladder attack (thought it was a heart-attack). It was Coastal that did the rescue at Cliff Kirk's when he was shot recently. From the time of the inception of first the Island Ferry and subsequently the Coastal Express these water-taxi services have been unsung heroes.
The road has negatively impacted the water-taxi business, but it's still an important part of the fabric of the town. A VERY important part.