Photo: NYC Ferry
Dec. 12, 2018 By Meghan Sackman
The city’s Economic Development Corporation is exploring the possibility of adding new ferry routes to the system, and has already seen interest in at least two Northeast Queens sites after conducting early stages of its feasibility study, according to Council Member Paul Vallone.
Vallone said on Monday that New Yorkers who responded to the EDC’s ferry feasibility survey over the fall overwhelmingly called for Citi Field Marina and Fort Totten to be studied for ferry landings.
The EDC told Vallone that more than 3,000 New Yorkers responded to the survey, which the agency said it is conducted as part of a study to examine sites for possible future landings.
Vallone, who has long advocated for ferry service to northeast Queens, said the EDC assured him that the two locations and other waterfront sites will be considered in working toward finalizing the study.
The Citi Field Marina (Google Maps)
“We will do our due diligence through this study to determine sites that are most feasible based on ridership demand, ferry navigability, and route planning,” wrote James Patchett, EDC president, in a letter to the council member.
The EDC, in a statement to the Queens Post, said it is in the process of wrapping up its study and plans on releasing the results in the coming months.
Vallone, meanwhile, said ferry service could be the answer to providing new, affordable travel options to commuters in his district.
“I look forward to working with EDC throughout this process,” Vallone said.
The city’s ongoing study is also looking at factors like water depth, population density, existing access to transit, and travel time comparisons between modes when examining new sites for possible landings.
The NYC Ferry currently operates six routes since launching in 2017, which connect parts of the Queens and Brooklyn waterfront on the East River to Midtown and Lower Manhattan. Other routes connect Manhattan to south Brooklyn and the Rockaways.
All new ferry services are temperature controlled, have free wifi, and have onboard refreshments.
The Times Ledger was first to report on the preliminary results of the survey.
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One Comment
They should extend the Astoria line and add Citi Field and Ft Totten. LGA Should be added too.