Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
NYC Ferry’s first two routes, Rockaway and East River, went into service on Monday.
By Michael V. Cusenza
All aboard!
South Queens community leaders and elected officials ended up in the water on Sunday as they celebrated the grand opening of the first two routes of NYC Ferry with a ceremonial first ride from the Rockaways to Manhattan.
“Today, I witnessed what many Rockaway residents thought might never happen—a credible commuter ferry run to Manhattan,” said State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach). “This day has been a long time coming. The introduction of the new Citywide Ferry Service will give residents and commuters improved, reliable transit options, taking them to-and-from Rockaway Beach, Brooklyn Army Terminal and Wall Street/Pier 11. The ferry will finally link the rest of New York City to Rockaway, so that visitors can experience all the benefits the peninsula has to offer.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio was a passenger on the ceremonial first voyage of the Urban Journey vessel, along with the boat’s official godmother, Laura Deckelmann. Last year, Rockaway activists Danny and Linda Ruscillo set up a petition to have the Beach 108th Street NYC Ferry dock named “Deckelman’s Landing,” after the longtime Rockaway Ferry advocate.
The Rockaway route officially launched on Monday at 5:15 a.m. – a month ahead of schedule. It offers service between Beach 108th Street, the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and Wall Street’s Pier 11.
“This ferry is exactly what we’ve needed to give Rockaway residents something approaching a normal commute,” said Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach). “To get that commute in speed and style, a month early? We’re over the moon. We’re glad the City is finally connecting south Queens to the rest of NYC in a workable way. This is a great day and it was so great to take the first ride with my neighbors!”
The newly-integrated East River Route launched at 6:30 a.m. on Monday. It offers service between East 34th Street, Hunter’s Point South, Greenpoint, North Williamsburg, South Williamsburg, Dumbo, Governor’s Island (in the summers only) and Wall Street’s Pier 11.
On June 1, a third route, South Brooklyn Route – which links Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Wall Street – will begin. Astoria service will launch in August, with the exact date still being determined. The final routes, the Lower East Side and Soundview routes, launch in 2018.
According to the City, once the NYC Ferry system is fully operating in 2018, the combined routes will cover more than 60 miles of waterway at $2.75 per ride, the same cost of a subway ride. Last week, NYCEDC and Hornblower, the company operating NYC Ferry, announced that the cost of a 30-day unlimited ferry pass will be $121, the same as a 30-day MetroCard.
“For years, Rockaway residents have had one of the longest commutes into Manhattan. The launch of the new NYC Ferry will cut the travel time for these commuters by about 30 minutes each way, giving the residents of Rockaway more time to spend with their families,” said City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park). “The ferry service will also boost foot traffic and help local businesses by providing New Yorkers a direct route to the Peninsula’s beautiful beaches. I am happy to be on board with NYC Ferry, which will fill a much-needed void in the Rockaways.”
