De Blasio administration makes NYC Ferry a true five-borough system
Mayor de Blasio and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC) today officially launched NYC Ferry’s St. George Route. The new route starts in the St. George section of Staten Island and makes stops at Battery Park City and Midtown West in Manhattan. The St. George route, which takes approximately 35 minutes start to finish, connects workers and residents on Staten Island to job centers up the West Side of Manhattan, shortening commutes for thousands of New Yorkers.
“Today, we’re launching the first new transportation option to and from Staten Island in decades,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “NYC Ferry will shorten commutes for thousands of New Yorkers every day, and provide greater connections than ever between two iconic boroughs. I’m proud to make New York City more accessible than ever.”
“Starting today, Staten Islanders have an additional fast and reliable option to shorten commutes and leisure trips to and from Manhattan,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Rachel Loeb. “With the launch of the St. George route, we are truly running a five-borough system that is connecting underserved neighborhoods with additional transit options. Congratulations to Mayor de Blasio, Borough President James Oddo, and all others who have worked in partnership to make this milestone a reality.”
“The start of fast ferry service between Staten Island and Manhattan strikes a blow for fairness and equity,” said Staten Island Borough President James Oddo. “It will improve the commutes of many Staten Islanders, and in turn, better their quality of life. And that is meaningful. My hope and expectation is that the success of this route will result in additional service at some point, most obvious being a connection to Brooklyn. That day will come. I thank the Mayor and his team, the entire NYC EDC family, originally led by my friend James Patchett, and now steered so ably by Rachel Loeb, for all the time and effort that has brought us to this day. This is a legacy of which we all can be proud.”
Since its launch in May 2017, NYC Ferry has served over 20 million riders across the Astoria, East River, South Brooklyn, Rockaway, East River and Soundview routes, and the St. George route is expected to add approximately many additional riders annually. Vessels will run every 30 minutes during peak times, and every 45 minutes during off-peak times. Residents of Staten Island will be able to reach Battery Park City in just 18 minutes and Midtown West in 35 minutes, cutting many current commuting times by nearly 20 minutes.
Detailed timetables for the St. George route, along with a map of all NYC Ferry routes, can be viewed here.
No comments:
Post a Comment