Citywide Ferry Service has filled the first of 200 jobs for its soon-to-be-launched transportation service, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.
Ferry service will begin this summer with three new routes to the Rockaways, South Brooklyn and Astoria, connecting to the existing East River Ferry route. All boats will now be docked, fueled and maintained out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where an additional passenger stop will be added next year.
"For the price of a subway ride, Citywide Ferry service will connect millions of riders to jobs and homes all along New York City's waterfront," de Blasio said in a press release.
Construction is also underway on the Navy Yard homeport. It will be fully outfitted by early 2018, adding passenger service to a stop on the East River route between South Williamsburg and Brooklyn Bridge Park.
The mayor's Fiscal 2018 capital budget includes funding for an additional boat to provide for service to the yard, which is undergoing its largest expansion in almost 60 years. Today, over 7,000 people work at the yard, with the city expecting that number to increase to 17,000 by 2020. Tenants at the Brooklyn Navy Yard are covering the majority of costs associated with constructing the new landing.
With 20 vessels operating at 21 landings, Citywide Ferry will carry out an estimated 4.6 million trips per year across six routes – providing an accessible transit option for traditionally underserved communities where jobs and housing are now growing.
The Navy Yard will provide free shuttle service for area residents to the new ferry landing from its Cumberland gate, putting the service in reach of thousands of NYCHA residents at Ingersoll, Farragut Houses, and Walt Whitman Houses.
"With our new homeport at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, we're ensuring all 200 of these living wage ferry jobs are located here in the five boroughs," said NYC Economic Development Corp. President and CEO James Patchett.
Average commuting times are estimated at about an hour from Rockaway to Wall Street, 48 minutes from Bay Ridge to Wall Street, around 43 minutes from Soundview to Wall Street and about 38 minutes from Astoria to Wall Street. The cost per ride will equal that of a single subway ride.
"Today is another fine example of how our city uses its resources to support the economic needs of our residents," said City Council Member Robert Cornegy. "The Brooklyn Navy Yard's vision and mission for this ferry system not only creates alternative transportation methods for thousands of New Yorkers but it also provides much needed employment opportunities for residents of Central Brooklyn through the Workforce One Centers managed by NYC's Small Business Services."
Currently, the city has invested $55 million in infrastructure upgrades, including building 10 new ferry landings. Barge construction is underway at a facility on Staten Island.
The city is also providing $30 million a year to the service in operating support for the next six years. Based on projections of 4.6 million trips a year, the per-trip subsidy for Citywide Ferry Service will be $6.60, lower than the almost $8 a trip subsidy to the Long Island Railroad or the nearly $15 a trip subsidy for express buses. Additionally, the city is providing $10 million for startup costs, such as vessel upgrades and ticketing machines.
If ridership exceeds 5.6 million passengers, the city will receive a portion of the fare-box revenue.
