Sunset-Ridge Waterfront Alliance

[Source: Brooklyn Resident Mary Ann Lento, 1/23/08]

I protest the suspension of ferry service between Brooklyn Army Terminal and Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan.

Together we are a powerful constituent base, a powerful tax base and a loyal downtown workforce.

The riders of the Brooklyn Army Terminal Ferry are reaching out to our elected officials to help us in our crusade to save the ferry service to Lower Manhattan.

For the hundreds of Brooklyn and Queens Residents who take the ferry, we implore you to take up the cause of this important service impacts our ability to live, work and pay taxes in New York City.

Summary of current situation

In Sept 2001, a safe means of transportation became a reality for constituents in Brooklyn and Queens. We will never be able to thank all the people involved in creating the service that rescued us in a time of great distress. As the government subsidies began to decline and private companies bid on the route, New York Water Taxi became the provider. They initially came on the scene with fast, safe, environmentally friendly, state-of- the-art vessels promising New Yorkers a new age of transportation. After a certain period, New York Water Taxi contracted out the Brooklyn Army Terminal run to T.W.F.M. Ferry Company. We applaud the loyal and hardworking crew of T.W.F.M and their reliable service. They worked hard to make this ferry service stay a reality. But, New York Water Taxi did not support T.W.F.M. in any way and there does not appear to be a business strategy in place to boost marketing and ridership.

We were informed last night that New York Water Taxi has decided to suspend service from Brooklyn Army Terminal and thereby eliminating all ferry service to and from Brooklyn.

The parking lot of the Brooklyn Army Terminal used to be filled to capacity with ferry commuters. We believe it can be full again!

Suggestions and comments to consider

• People drive to Brooklyn Army Terminal from the Rockaways, Belle Harbor, Howard Beach, and Long Beach (to name a few) because they have no other reasonable means of transportation to get them into Manhattan in less than 1 ½ hours. Construction in the Rockaways is booming and all of these new homeowners will need a way to get to work. Considering combining the runs between Rockaway and Brooklyn.
• The R subway line that serves Bay Ridge and its surrounding neighborhoods is a long and crowded ride. The New York Water Taxi vessel takes 12 minutes. Many of the subway riders have cars that must be switched due to alternate side of the street parking. If they knew about safe and free parking at BAT terminal, they make switch over.
• We suggest they by lower the cost of the service (currently at $6 each way, $54 for a 10 pack and $175 monthly) to try and attract the riders who might be swayed by a slightly lower cost than the express bus.
• We suggest that they offer a more substantially discounted monthly ticket that is available to all riders.
• Once NY Water Taxi has lowered the fare, hold a special event at the BAT pier and offer customers a free ride on the state-of-the-art boats with fanfare and give-a-ways. Once they see how wonderful it is to get into work in 12 minutes, they won’t go back to their old mode of transportation.
• NY Water Taxi should listen to their customers. If they canvassed their customers they would see that the current schedule poses a hardship to many riders and caused them to stop using the service.
• Our friends, neighbors and colleagues tell us they would ride the Water Taxi if only it went midtown too. Consider a run that makes 34th Street the next stop after Pier 11.
• Market the Water Taxi in companies. Offer incentives to try the service.
• No pain ….no gain. They have to spend money to make money. Advertising, better schedules, incentives etc.
• The Gowanus is woefully overcrowded during rush hour. Bloomberg is quick to try to further penalize Brooklynites with a Brooklyn Bridge toll but he cannot see his way clear to help alleviate traffic by using the waterways.

Doesn’t anyone see that there is no emergency evacuation without the ferry service ready to spring into action? Every day that we set foot on lower Manhattan bedrock we remember what happened. Please help us build the New York Water Taxi business and get the boats back on the New York City routes. Please help us figure out how to make this a win-win for the NY Water Taxi owners, the commuters and the City.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and we look forward to your support.

Mary Ann Lento
New York, New York

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