All aboard! There's a new weekend summer ferry service starting this Friday, June 11 and running through Labor Day.
The NYHarborWay Ferry Brooklyn/Manhattan Express will offer service between the recently opened Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fulton Ferry Landing, and South Street Seaport in Manhattan. On Fridays, the ferry will also stop on Governors Island, providing the only access from Brooklyn on that day.
Operated by New York Water Taxi, the ferries will run every 30 minutes. Friday riders will pay a fraction of the Saturday/Sunday rate: $3 for a round trip instead of $10.
"This is the first major NYHarborWay Initiative project this year, aimed at increasing connectivity between New York City's waterfronts," said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta.
And there may be a tide of new water transport in the near future utilizing existing and still unnamed stops. We may get a new view from the waves when the Economic Development Corporation releases its "Comprehensive Citywide Ferry Study" just completed.
"We anticipate a recommendation to expand East River service," commented Helena Durst, a principal of New York Water Taxi. "We're very optimistic about it."
New York Water Taxi and New York Waterway are the city's two private ferry operators. The State Island Ferry is the city's only publicly operated water transportation and is the busiest in the country by passenger volume. While about 100-thousand people a day ride New York ferries, a lot more land lubbers might develop sea legs if there were more routes and links to other forms of transportation.
Local
If you build them, they will come as Washington state has proven. It boasts the most extensive ferry system in the country, carrying 11-million vehicles and 26-million passengers a year. What does Washington state have that New York City doesn't? More boats.
