Riverdale Ferry Coalition

To the editor:

I would like to submit this letter to the editor in support of ferry service from Riverdale to lower Manhattan. ("Driving Mr. Hoffnung," political arena, Feb. 21)

I noticed a few weeks ago a letter to the editor warning that ferry service from Riverdale would be impossible given docking and river current conditions. After speaking with representatives of the Riverdale Ferry Coalition it is clear that ferry service is definitely feasible and safe.

Ferry service to lower Manhattan would directly improve the quality of life of many Riverdale residents who make the long journey to lower Manhattan for work. This service would save the average commuter up to 35 minutes or more one way. This saves a commuter at least five hours of commute time in just one week. If you then calculate the savings in a year, the amount of time saved is enormous.

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It’s been a good week for ferries. First, Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced in her state of the city address that she and Mayor Mike Bloomberg want to create a citywide, year-round ferry system. The idea started with a pilot ferry program for the Rockaways, which will be up and running this summer, but Quinn described widespread ferry service that would shorten commuting times throughout the city.

“Think of how it will enhance our infrastructure, open up our waterfronts and create jobs,” she said Tuesday. The Queens service is likely to include stops in Lower Manhattan

John Liu, chairperson of the Council’s Transportation Committee, sees the ferry program as a return to the city’s historical reliance on waterways to transport people and goods.

“For the last 100 years, we kind of lost sight of the value of the waterways,” Liu told Downtown Express. “So this is reclaiming this lost natural resource of the waterways of the city.”

Original Story>>>

Back in November when Ari Hoffnung first began his push to bring ferry service to Riverdale, he found a powerful ally in City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Just a week after news of Mr. Hoffnung’s plan spread, Ms. Quinn issued a statement of support. "Riverdale is ripe for a high-speed ferry," she said.

So when the speaker publicly announced her own intentions to launch a five-borough ferry system during her Feb. 12 State of the City address, Mr. Hoffnung was naturally enthused, even though her hypothetical Bronx stop was Hunts Point. Riverdale was not mentioned during her address.

Full Article >>>

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn endorsed the creation of a citywide ferry service and an expansion of a small business insurance program in her State of the City address last week. Now advocates and stakeholders are weighing in, and - for the most part - appear to be praising the proposals.

Last week, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced her support for a five-borough, year-round ferry system that Mayor Bloomberg and the city Department of Transportation are developing. Such a proposal may seem like a pipe dream to many New Yorkers, who have seen ferry service remain fairly stagnant, either from a shortage of funding or an apparent lack of demand.

Full Article >>>

Earlier this week, in her annual State of the City address, New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn announced her plans to develop a comprehensive five-borough, year-round New York City Ferry System.
 
"New York must do more to make transportation throughout the city cleaner and more accessible. It’s only natural to look at our natural highways… our water ways … to move New Yorkers efficiently and sustainably. Later this month, we’ll unveil a detailed plan for developing what will be one of the most significant transit initiatives in recent New York City history," said Speaker Quinn.

Read the Press Release>>>