Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo’s Office
Addabbo said the free transfers “would be a major benefit” to commuters.
By Michael V. Cusenza
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) kicked off the new year and latest legislative session by calling on the City Economic Development Corporation to have the NYC Ferry system provide free transfers for riders that can be used on all Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses and trains.
Right now, passengers have to pay a $2.75 fare for a one-way ticket on the ferry, and additional $2.75 for any MTA bus or train after it.
“As the MTA continues to work on the next generation of the MetroCard, I ask that they take into consideration the growing number of people who use the NYC Ferry,” Addabbo said. “With the number of passengers on the NYC Ferry likely to increase in the coming years, it would be a major benefit for the riders if they could continue their route by using a free transfer onto an MTA-operated bus or train. Joining these parts of our city’s public transportation system will help everyone travel faster.”
The City told The Forum this week that it is open to exploring Addabbo’s request.
“As the MTA works to implement a new fare system, we’ll continue to discuss opportunities to integrate payment options,” said NYCEDC spokeswoman Stephanie Baez.
Additionally, the senator pledged to contact the agency about possibly expanding its ferry bus service to the residents in Broad Channel and Howard Beach.
“Currently, residents of Broad Channel who drive and park their cars before boarding the NYC Ferry in the Rockaways can do it for free, while residents of Howard Beach who wish to do the same are inundated with the toll for crossing the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge,” Addabbo added. “That just adds an additional fare for those people, which isn’t fair. That is why I would like to see the buses that bring people into the Rockaways to get the ferry expanded to Broad Channel and Howard beach. This would provide these residents with an alternate way of getting to the ferry, and if the MTA transfer plan moves forward it would be a free transfer from that bus onto the ferry.”
