By Bill Parry
Ferry service to Astoria gets underway Aug. 1, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday as he welcomed the first three of 20 new NYC Ferry vessels into New York Harbor.
The Astoria route will connect the new landing on Hallets Cove with Roosevelt Island, Long Island City, East 34th Street in Manhattan and end at Wall Street. The ride will take about 38 minutes from start to finish.
The first ferry will leave at 6:30 a.m. everyday, with the final ferry arriving back at Astoria at 9:47 p.m. on weekdays, and 10:28 p.m. on weekends. The ferries will run every 20 minutes during peak hours, and every 30 to 45 minutes during non-peak hours.
NYC Ferry launches its service to Rockaway May 1 and South Brooklyn June 1.
“All Aboard!” de Blasio said. “As we prepare for launch day on May 1, we celebrate the arrival of the first NYC Ferry to New York Harbor and what this new citywide ferry service represents: greater opportunity for every New Yorker, from the Rockaways to the Bronx, and at just $2.75 a ride.”
Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen christened the first vessel “Lunchbox” with a traditional bottle of champagne smashed on its bow during a dedication ceremony at Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The mayor’s team rode across New York Harbor from Liberty State Park.
“I’m so honored to christen this first ferry,” she said. “In just two weeks, this service will start transforming the way thousands of New Yorkers travel. The docks are ready. The boats are ready. The riders are ready. NYC Ferry is about to become a reality.”
Each of the vessels will carry 150 people at a time and will have free Wi-Fi, bike racks, temperature control and a snack bar onboard. NYC Ferry will operate 30 ferries from Astoria each weekday and 23 each on Saturdays and Sundays.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
