By Howard Koplowitz
Since it set sail on its maiden voyage May 12, ridership on the Rockaway ferry has been on the rise, according to its operator.
“The numbers were going progressively up,” said Stacey Sherman, a spokeswoman for New York Water Taxi, which operates the ferry service.
Ridership figures are key to determining whether the ferry, launched as a two-year pilot program, will continue beyond 2010.
The ferry begins at Riis Landing and makes a stop at the Brooklyn Army Terminal before ending at Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan near Wall Street.
On the first day of ferry service, 46 passengers boarded the ferry for the trip into Manhattan. But it was difficult to determine how many of those riders were Rockaway residents because the maiden voyage was filled with elected officials, including U.S. Rep Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills), City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) and City Councilman Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), and their aides.
The ferry had its busiest day so far on May 14, when 183 passengers used the service, including 57 who boarded the boat at Riis Landing, according to figures from the city Economic Development Corproration.
Nice weather helped boost the number of passengers on that day, Sherman said.
“When the weather is sunny and bright, ridership numbers are better,” she said.
Conversely, the ferry recorded its fewest passengers on Friday, when there were heavy rains. On that day, 124 total passengers took the ferry, with 34 embarking from Far Rockaway.
Accounting for the weather, the ferry has seen an increase in ridership since it launched, Sherman said.
The service makes two trips into Manhattan, at 5:45 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. from Riis Landing, and two more Rockaway-bound trips at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
The American Princess, the boat that makes the trips, can accommodate 250 passengers.
On the maiden voyage, passengers were restricted to the lower deck of the boat because of howling winds and heavy rains. But the top deck, where riders can take in views of the Statue of Liberty during the trip, is open during nice weather.
Addabbo earlier told TimesLedger that more frequent trips may be scheduled if the number of passengers riding the ferry is high during the pilot program.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
