By Gabriel Rom
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday he has tapped San Francisco-based Hornblower Cruises & Events to run the city’s ferry routes.
“For the price of a single subway ride, tens of thousands of New Yorkers are going to have a new public transit option linking them to jobs, education and opportunities across the city,” de Blasio said.
“It’s going to be a commute like no other: fresh air, harbor views and a fast ride on open water.”
The three new routes will connect Rockaway to south Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan; Astoria to Long Island City, Roosevelt Island and Midtown Manhattan; and Brooklyn to Manhattan.
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), who had criticized the city’s decision to go with an out-of-state service provide, tentatively welcomed the announcement.
“The future of transportation in the Rockaways now lies in the hands of the mayor’s administration and its selected operator Hornblower, and we must make certain they run this service adequately,” he said.
Reach reporter Gabriel Rom by e-mail at grom@
