By Philip Newman
Queens commuters can cross the East River between Hunters Point in Long Island City and Wall Street in eight minutes starting this summer if plans of the N.Y. Waterway Ferry lines go according to plan.
The startup of the new service depends, in part, on the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides disaster relief money for the rehabilitation of Lower Manhattan following the Sept. 11 attacks.
“We plan on using Otter class ferries, which can attain a speed of 40 miles an hour,” said Pat Smith, a spokesman for N.Y. Waterway. “These boats are 64 feet long and have a capacity of 94 passengers. The trip from Hunters Point to Pier 11 at Wall Street would take eight minutes.”
Smith said the passengers in the vessels ride indoors, sheltered from wind and rain.
The expected grant from the federal agency, which has yet to announce its decision, would help N.Y. Waterway get the new service started, Smith said.
“We provided ferry service for five years — from 1997 to 2001 — between Hunters Point and 34th Street in Manhattan but lost money on the run,” Smith said. “But we feel it is now time for service to Lower Manhattan.”
An influx of new companies and businesses in western Queens has spurred on N.Y. Waterway.
“A lot is going on economically and otherwise in western Queens, a lot of development,” Smith said. “We believe there is going to be a lot of interest in Long Island City and other places in this new service.”
Another reason for starting service at Hunters Point is a Long Island Rail Road station at Borden Avenue and Second Street near the docks where the ferries arrive, Smith said. “It will be an easy transfer for a quick trip to Lower Manhattan.”
Smith said the company had yet to announce a fare for the new East River run.
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 136.
