BY ARIEL HERNANDEZ
Staff Writer
As part of the Citywide Ferry Service’s route scheduled to launch next summer, earlier this week New York City Economic Development Corporation President Maria Torres-Springer, Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, state Sen. Michael Gianaris, Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan and Community Board 2 District Manager Debra Markell-Kleinert announced that the ferry landing for Long Island City north will be located off Center Boulevard in Gantry Plaza Park.
Elected officials and the New York City Economic Development Corporation announce the new Long Island City Ferry landing.
“Citywide Ferry Service will provide increased transportation options for commuters in Western Queens, and the cost of a boat ride to Midtown or Wall Street will be the same as a trip on the subway,” said Van Bramer. “All five boroughs will be better connected because of this new initiative. Long Island City is growing rapidly, and its residents need a variety of transportation options.”
The new ferry landing in Gantry Plaza State Park will provide access for thousands of residents, servicing approximately 4,000 riders a day.
“The Citywide Ferry is a much-needed service to address some of the transit shortfalls in Queens. The Long Island City landing spot will be a boon for residents and businesses of the fastest-growing neighborhood in New York City,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.
“Our challenge in government has been to help ensure infrastructure keeps up with demand, and we’re pleased the project is on track to launch next year.”
In addition, the expansion of the Citywide Ferry Service will create 155 new jobs, which will allow employees to earn above $15 per hour and a comprehensive benefits package.
With history as a strong unionized employer, Hornblower Cruises is expected to participate in the City’s HireNYC program, which matches qualified applicants from neighborhood-based WorkForce1 training centers.
The new ferry routes scheduled to launch in 2017 include Rockaway, South Brooklyn and Astoria. The Rockaway route will connect to the Brooklyn Army Terminal and Wall Street; the Astoria route will connect to Astoria, Roosevelt Island, Long Island City, East 34th Street and Wall Street; and the South Brooklyn route will connect to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Army Terminal, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 and Pier 6, Wall Street and Governor’s Island.
While those routes are set for the upcoming year, there are still several others to be launched soon after. These are projected to cover 60 miles of waterway and serve over half a million New Yorkers living within a half-mile of one of the ferry landings and 15,000 families living in New York City Housing Authority developments.
While Nolan expressed initial concern about the Center Boulevard location, arguing that the heavy foot traffic could result in “additional wear and tear” on the park and loud noise along with other concerns, she joined everyone else in celebrating the announcement.
“After having some concerns and reservations about placing a second ferry stop in Gantry State Park, I believe that with the cooperation of both city and state agencies we can continue to expand ferry operations while preserving both park land and green space for our communities,” said Nolan. “I will continue to monitor this situation to ensure Gantry State Park is not negatively impacted by this arrangement.”
Reach Ariel Hernandez at (718) 357-7400 x144 or [email protected]
