Scale model gives New Yorkers preview of ferry features, including spacious seating, bike racks, innovative design

First ferries expected to arrive in NYC early 2017

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. today announced that a scale model of the new Citywide Ferry vessels will be on display at the New York Public Library’s Soundview branch in the Bronx as part of a multi-borough tour. The model will be on display at the library through Wednesday, March 22nd, before moving to The Bronx Museum of the Arts where it will be on display through March 31st.

The model will give Bronx residents an opportunity to preview some of the exciting features that will be offered on the modern, efficient ferry boats that are currently under construction. Such features include spacious seating, bicycle racks and charging stations. Other specs and features of the Citywide Ferry vessels include:

  • Capacity for 150 passengers along with space for bikes, strollers and wheelchairs.
  • ADA Local Law 68/2005 accessibility and compliance.
  • Boats are 85 feet long, offering passengers more space than more traditional ferries.
  • Ferries are primarily built out of aluminum, which is safe, light weight and increases fuel efficiency. The fleet of 19 vessels will be built with the equivalent of over 77 million cans of aluminum.
  • Use of ultra-efficient engines to reduce emissions.
  • Innovative hull design to limit wake and maximize fuel efficiency.
  • Wi-Fi available throughout the vessel.
  • Heated decks that increase each vessel’s resiliency and durability, especially during the cold, snowy winter months.

The ferry model began its voyage at Queens Borough Hall and the Rockaway Library earlier this year before continuing on to Brooklyn Borough Hall and the Manhattan Borough President’s Office.

Set to launch in 2018, the Soundview route of the Citywide Ferry Service will connect communities in the Bronx with job centers throughout New York City. The approximately 45 minute route will begin in Soundview and make stops at East 90th Street and East 62nd Street before landing at Wall Street/Pier 11. The East River Ferry will be integrated into Citywide Ferry Service, which will reduce the cost of that service to $2.75 from $4, the same cost of a subway ride.

“Citywide Ferry Service’s Soundview route will provide a convenient, reliable and affordable transit option for Bronx residents,” said NYCEDC President and CEO James Patchett. “The ferry model will be on display at the Soundview Library and the Bronx Museum of the Arts for the next three weeks to give Bronxites a firsthand look of the state-of-the-art vessels that will transform the way they commute across the city.”

“Ferry service in The Bronx has long been a priority of my administration, and I am happy to partner with the New York City Economic Development Corporation to provide Bronxites a closer look at the future of ferry service in Soundview,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

With nineteen vessels operating at 21 landings across New York City, Citywide Ferry will carry an estimated 4.6 million trips per year across six routes – providing a new and easily accessible transit option to traditionally underserved communities and where job and housing are growing rapidly. For more information and images on Citywide Ferry, please visit www.CitywideFerry.NYC.

More Details on Citywide Ferry Service

Routes:

  • Rockaway, South Brooklyn and Astoria routes are scheduled to launch in 2017.
  • Rockaway route will connect to the Brooklyn Army Terminal and Wall Street.
  • Astoria route will connect to Astoria, Roosevelt Island (Cornell Tech), Long Island City, East 34th Street and Wall Street.
  • South Brooklyn route will connect Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Army Terminal, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 and Pier 6, and Wall Street, with an optional link to Governors Island.
  • Soundview and Lower East Side routes to launch in 2018.
  • Routes from Coney Island and Stapleton on Staten Island are in the planning stages for future expansion.
  • Combined routes will cover over 60 miles of waterway.

Commuting Times:

  • Rockaway to Wall Street (1 stop): Approximately 1 hour
  • Astoria to E 34th Street (2 stops): Approximately 22 minutes
  • Astoria to Wall Street (3 stops): Approximately 38 minutes
  • Soundview to Wall Street (2 stops): Approximately 43 minutes
  • Bay Ridge to Wall Street (4 stops): Approximately 48 minutes

Pricing:

  • Cost per ride will equal that of a single subway ride.
  • Over 4,000 daily East River Ferry customers will see fares reduced from $4 to the cost of a single subway ride.
  • Fare will allow for free transfers to any other ferry route within the system, including the East River Ferry.
  • Both paper and smartphone ticketing will be available, with payments accepted via cash, credit, or debit card. Discounts will be available for seniors, children and New Yorkers with disabilities.
  • Passengers will be allowed to bring bicycles on board for a $1 fee.

The Boats:

  • Each boat will be able to carry 150 passengers.
  • All boats will be equipped with WiFi.
  • Boats will be fully accessible to New Yorkers with disabilities, and will comply with the requirements of both the Americans with Disabilities Act and New York City Local Law 68 of 2005.
  • New boats will be equipped with the most modern engine design available to reduce emissions and noise, as well as an efficient hull design that will limit wakes and maximize fuel economy.

City Support:

  • The city is investing $55 million in infrastructure upgrades, including building 10 new ferry landings. Barge construction is currently underway at a facility on Staten Island.
  • The city is providing $30 million in operating support per year, over a period of six years. Based on a projection of 4.6 million annual trips, the per-trip subsidy for Citywide Ferry Service will be $6.60, lower than the nearly $8 per trip subsidy on the Long Island Railroad or the nearly $15 per trip subsidy for express buses. The city is providing $10 million for additional startup costs, such as vessel upgrades and ticketing machines.
  • City negotiated an option to acquire ferry vessels, allowing for greater operational flexibility and providing significant savings to taxpayers over the life of the service (roughly up to $5 million per year).
  • City will receive a portion of fare-box revenue if ridership exceeds 5.6 million passengers.