Yet another stop on the city’s ferry system will soon open in Long Island City.
Over the next two weeks, the New York City Ferry Service operated by Hornblower, along with the NYCEDC is bringing the Soundview and Lower East Side ferry routes to an estimated total of 1.4 million riders. Since May 2017, the NYC Ferry has been offering New Yorkers a new, affordable mode of transportation.
“We’re excited to launch NYC Ferry service in the Bronx, the Upper East Side and the Lower East Side, which have historically been transit deserts,” said NYCEDC President James Patchett. “For the same cost of a subway ride, New Yorkers that live and work in these communities will now have a fast, affordable and convenient way to get around the city.”
According to Hornblower, the Lower East Side route opens to the public on Aug. 29 and will make stops at Wall Street/Pier 11, Corlears Hook, Stuyvesant Cove, East 34th Street, and end at Long Island City. In total, the trip will take approximately 32 minutes from start to finish.
The NYC Ferry will also launch a new Soundview route on Aug. 15, which will make stops at Clason Point Park in Soundview, East 90th Street on the Upper East Side, East 34th Street and end its run at Wall Street/Pier 11. Clark said that about 400,000 riders will use the new ferry route.
Cameron Clark, the senior vice president of the NYC Ferry by Hornblower, said that the LES route will serve about 1 million customers who are looking for new modes of transportation in the evolving state of New York.
“Ferries are poised to make a comeback,” Clark said.
The senior vice president mentioned that ferries were one of New York’s main sources of transportation in the city’s earlier history and added that the city’s increasing waterfront access encourages more New Yorkers to spend more time traveling by ferry.
In 2013, the NYCEDC conducted their Citywide Ferry Study, that determined which underserved parts of the city might produce the highest levels of ridership. Locations on the Lower East Side and Soundview routes were included on the list of “most promising new ferry routes” in the EDC study.
With the addition of the two newest routes, the NYC Ferry service will have six total routes, including Astoria, East River, Rockaway and South Brooklyn. Clark said that the ferry service’s fleet includes 20 vessels and is set to grow due to a growing demand. In July, NYC Ferry welcomed the Ocean Queen Rockstar to their fleet, the first of six 350-passenger vessels that will be used to accommodate higher ridership demand.
Clark said that all NYC Ferry rides can be booked and managed on the NYC Ferry Mobile app, which can be found in the App Store or Google Play by searching “NYC Ferry.” The app allows users to plan their journey and see real-time ferry schedules, as well as helping them stay informed about cancellations or service changes.
Those who are interested in learning more about the NYC Ferry or potential job opportunities can visit their website at ferry.nyc.
