Riverdale Ferry Coalition

Majority Leader Joel Rivera today announced his support for establishing high-speed commuter ferry service between Riverdale and Lower Manhattan.

“Riverdale’s geographic location adjacent to the Hudson River makes it an ideal site to establish high-speed ferry service,” said Majority Leader Joel Rivera.

"Given the fact that it can take over 75 minutes each way to commute from Riverdale to Lower Manhattan, via public transportation, it is no surprise that so many people choose to drive into Manhattan instead. If we are serious about reducing congestion into Manhattan we must provide the people in the Bronx with viable commuting alternatives. Offering high-speed ferry service in Riverdale would help shorten commutes for thousands of people in an environmentally responsible fashion.”

“I enthusiastically support establishing ferry service in Riverdale, and in the coming months I will be working closely with Speaker Quinn, my Council colleagues, and the Department of Transportation in order to make this vision a reality.”

Download Official Statement>>>

As a former community board member and committee chair, I was delighted to have the opportunity to present the idea of establishing ferry service in Riverdale to Community Board 8’s Environment & Sanitation and Traffic & Transportation committees.

I was also grateful that the committee passed a resolution expressing their support for conducting a ferry feasibility study and am hopeful that this resolution will win the support of the full board at their upcoming Tuesday, December 11th meeting.

Ferry service in Riverdale will not only help reduce commuting times into Lower Manhattan but will also help take cars off the road and reduce carbon emissions. I look forward to working closely with the Community Board on this exciting project.

UPDATE: CB8 APPROVED FERRY FEASIBILITY STUDY. MORE TO FOLLOW…

After watching the Yonkers ferry race by on its way to lower Manhattan for months, residents of Riverdale in the Bronx have seen enough.

A small group has started an effort to get the high-speed ferry to stop in the borough. The Riverdale Ferry Coalition has already rallied support form the boat’s operator New York Water Taxi, and form local congressman. 

 Read the original article>>>

SEATTLE, Nov. 17 — .. the goal of getting rid of the passenger-only boats is intended to generate cash so that King County, and possibly other local governments, can get into the foot-ferry business themselves.

The Riverdale Ferry Coalition, a group pushing to add a ferry stop on the Hudson River for Riverdale commuters, snagged a key endorsement last week when City Council Speaker Christine Quinn gave her approval.

Ms. Quinn, who earlier in the month joined the chorus of politicians denouncing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s fare hike proposal, applauded the transportation alternative.

“Riverdale is ripe for a highspeed ferry,” said Ms. Quinn.

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Speaker Christine C. Quinn today announced her support for establishing commuter ferry service between Riverdale to Lower Manhattan.  “Riverdale is ripe for a high speed ferry,” said Speaker Quinn.  “Using our waterways, we can very quickly create a fast, efficient and environmentally friendly way to improve the daily commute for residents of Riverdale, reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions.  I am proud to support Riverdale ferry service, and will be working with my Council colleagues and the Department of Transportation on this proposal.” Continue Reading »

BY MANNY GROSSMAN, RIVERDALE PRESS If Ari Hoffnung gets his way, Riverdale residents can sail down the Hudson River to get to work each day. On Monday, Mr. Hoffnung, joined by a handful of supporters known as the Riverdale Ferry Coalition, held a press conference aboard a New York Water Taxi to tout the benefits of ferry service and to kick off a drive to bring a ferry stop to Riverdale. The biggest draw, Mr. Hoffnung said, is shorter commute times into lower Manhattan. A typical ferry ride from the Yonkers dock, where Mr. Hoffnung and his crew departed, to lower Manhattan, takes anywhere from 35 to 43 minutes depending on the current, said Capt. Carl Madsen of the New York Water Taxi. Continue Reading »

“City Councilman Oliver Koppell (D-Riverdale) suggested adding water taxi service linking the west Bronx to midtown and lower Manhattan and increasing rush-hour skip-stop service on the IRT No. 1 line.”

Read the Full Daily News Story>>>

BRONX NEWS 12 

 YONKERS - Manhattan-bound Riverdale commuters are pushing for a New York Water Taxi stop in their neighborhood to cut travel time.

According to the Riverdale Ferry Coalition, many residents currently drive to Yonkers and catch the nearest water taxi heading downtown. From there, the commute from Westchester is less than 40 minutes.

“We have an obligation to explore as many ways as possible for people to go to lower Manhattan and midtown Manhattan without driving there, and this is one possibility,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

Watch the Video>>>

Continue Reading »

By NICOLE NEROULIAS, THE JOURNAL NEWS

YONKERS - If you build it, more will ride.

That’s why Rep Eliot Engel, D-Bronx, said he wants to study the feasibility of adding a Riverdale stop to the New York Water Taxi that ferries Rockland and Westchester County commuters to lower Manhattan.

Engel announced his plan this morning at the Yonkers Pier, shortly before about two dozen people boarded the 7:50 a.m. ferry. Continue Reading »