Riverdale Ferry Coalition

By Candice M. Giove, Riverdale Review

Though the high-speed ferry service operating from Yonkers and Haverstraw to Lower Manhattan offers a far swifter commute than other modes of transportation, the line has not drawn a substantial mass of passengers. It has, however, received large subsidies.

According to reports, ferry service operator New York Water Taxi took in $1.19 million from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation between May and December 2007. With as few as 87 riders per day departing from the Yonkers stop, that means that some pretty penny is spent to carry each of them.

Ari Hoffnung, cochairman of the Riverdale Ferry Coalition, who has pitched a similar project here in Riverdale, said that public money has not been wasted on the commute-by-boat endeavor. Instead, he said, the abysmal ridership numbers and the steep subsidies just "reinforce the urgency of adding a ferry stop in Riverdale."

"I remain confident that together, the communities of Yonkers and Riverdale can attract the number of commuters required to make high-speed ferry service a financially sustainable project," he said. 

In Rockland County, where the Haverstraw stop is located, ridership has gone as high as only 24 people per day. The county allocated $1.2 million to fund the high-speed ferry there until April 2009.

Though comfortable and quick, the service is expensive.  A one-way trip from the Yonkers stop to Lower Manhattan costs $12, with a monthly pass priced at $400. Hoffnung said that the service might not have caught on yet, since it’s still in its infancy.

"It is also important to note that the ferry service in Yonkers has only been operating for several months and that there are many commuters who are still unaware of this service or still have not yet decided to try it out," he said.

"Moreover, hundreds of high-end apartment units are currently under construction on the Yonkers Waterfront. These units will undoubtedly be occupied by a significant number of Wall Street professionals who are driven to the area by more affordable housing options and the availability of a high-speed ferry. The Yonkers Waterfront area has the potential of flourishing in the same way that Hoboken and Jersey City, two communities with ferry service, have on the other side of the Hudson." 

Since Hoffnung announced his idea to bring high-speed ferry service to Riverdale in November, elected officials including Congressman Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Councilman G. Oliver Koppell, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera have announced varying levels of support. The figures, however, might make some think twice about investing in such a service.

"Every new idea has its naysayers," Hoffnung said.  "However, in my opinion, if we’re serious about improving mass transit and reversing the effects of global warming, we’re going to need to think creatively. Investing in high-speed ferry service is something that makes sense on several levels. Ferry service, compared to driving, will reduce commuting times by 25 minutes each way and also help reduce the harmful levels of carbon dioxide emitted from cars."

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