Sunset-Ridge Waterfront Alliance

[Source: Brooklyn Daily Eagle]

Water Taxi Service Welcomed By BP Markowitz, Sen. Golden

By Tom Kane

SUNSET PARK — Well, finally. Bay Ridge and Sunset Park riders now have ferry service to Pier 11 in Downtown Manhattan near Wall Street … Again.

It started on a rainy Monday morning, a little late, but when Delia Vitale saw the boat heading towards us in the rain, she exclaimed, “Here it is!”

Vitale, who lives in Sea Gate and for the last three months has driven into Manhattan paying over $200 a week to park, was thrilled with the new service.

“They stopped in February, telling us that because of maintenance and inspections the boat would be out of the water indefinitely. I’m glad they’re back,” she said.

Lois Coleman, on the other hand, was not too happy with the new schedule. “Even if the 8:25 a.m. leaves on schedule, by the time I walk to my office, I just barely make it to my desk by 9.”

New York Water Taxi was selected to operate the new commuter service from Breezy Point in Rockaway to the Brooklyn Army Terminal (BAT) in Sunset Park to Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan, beginning Monday.

Fares along this route are $6 each way, $60 for a 10-trip book (good for one year) and $216 for a 40-trip book (good for one year). The schedule for the one-hour trip between Rockaway and Lower Manhattan can be read below.

There is a $1.00 transfer fee for passengers to connect from this route with other New York Water Taxi commuter routes along the East River. Special summer weekend schedules between Manhattan and Riis Landing in Gateway National Recreation Area will be announced in a few weeks.

Joining the more than 20 riders who awaited the ferry on its inaugural voyage from Bay Ridge were State Sen. Marty Golden and Borough President Marty Markowitz. They spoke with most of the riders, including Paula Cabe and Blake Thompson, who had been taking the R train into Manhattan previously but were ecstatic with the new schedule.

“This is perfect. I live right there,” Cabe said, pointing up the block from the pier. “I am very happy.”

Young Robert Carter, a sophomore at the High School for Telecommunication Arts on Fourth Avenue, was there with his mom, Vivian. They live in Belle Harbor, Rockaway, and were checking out the surroundings, to see if this may be Robert’s new commute to school.

Morning Schedule

Riis Landing
5:45 a.m., 7:45 a.m.

Brooklyn Army Terminal
6:25 a.m., 8:25 a.m.

Pier 11, Wall Street
6:45 a.m., 8:45 a.m.

Evening Schedule

Pier 11, Wall St
3:30 p.m., 5;30 p.m.

Brooklyn Army Terminal
3:50 p.m., 5:50 p.m.

Riis Landing
4:30 p.m., 6:30p.m.

Read the complete article at Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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