The new NYC Ferry stop in Astoria will officially begin service on Tuesday, Aug. 29.
Mayor Bill de Blasio visited Long Island City this morning to announce the new route, which will stop at Roosevelt Island, Long Island City, 34th Street and Wall Street. The landing is located at Vernon Boulevard and 30th Road.
The mayor also announced that the service, which launched on May 1, reached 1 million riders today though it was projected to hit that ridership on Aug. 23.
More than 625,000 riders have used the East River route, 221,000 have used the Rockaway Route, and 154,000 riders have utilized the South Brooklyn Route. Weekday ridership across the three routes ranges from 8,000 to 12,000 riders.
“It’s been less than three months and NYC Ferry has already served 1 million riders,” he said. “As we prepare to launch the Astoria route, we continue to add capacity to this brand-new and wildly popular system – one that connects transit-starved neighborhoods and commuters to jobs and the wider city.”
The distance between Hallets Cove and Manhattan is only 1,500 feet, but for many residents who live along the water, the commute to the city takes up to an hour and a half.
“The ferry will help western Astoria, where residents have to endure long subway rides, stay better connected with our city and help revitalize Hallets Peninsula,” said Councilman Costa Constantinides. “Expanding public transit options will move us closer towards our goal of reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050 and ensure that our city remains a global leader on the environment.”
The final two routes, Lower East Side and Soundview, will launch next year and the service will cover more than 60 miles of waterway.
