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St. George resident Russell Farhang says trying to get work done on his morning commute on the Staten Island Ferry can be trying.

"Sometime I was trying to work and one time a guy sat right in front of me and basically gave an entire sermon and when I moved he moved with me. So I folded up my books and gave up," Farhang said.

Experiences like Farhang's may soon be a thing of the past thanks to the efforts of State Senator Diane Savino and City Councilman Ken Mitchell.

Over the next two weeks, riders will be seeing signs urging a voluntary quiet zone on the middle deck of the larger ferry boats.

Senator Savino said the Department of Transportation became open to the idea after her office recently completed a survey of ferry riders.

"Everyone of them said that they wanted some place to go on the boat where they could go and just contemplate their life, be left alone in some piece and quiet for that 25, 30 minute ride and somewhere where they didn't have to listen to other people's cell phone conversations or listen to other people's music or listen to people proselytizing," Savino said.

Mitchell is also in the process of drafting legislation that would move the quiet zone beyond just a voluntary measure.

"It actually gives the police department and the Department of Transportation the ability to actually enforce ferry rules which prohibit disruptive behavior on the boats," Mitchell said.

The idea of a quiet spot on the ferry is something riders say is long overdue.

"It is similar to a quiet car on Amtrak when you are traveling and I think a lot of people appreciate quiet time before they get on their busy day," said Willowbrook resident Helene Sokan.

"In the morning it can be a little noisy and crowded and I would like to read my paper and have my coffee nice and quiet because it is about the only quiet I have," said New Brighton resident Lisa Vergarar.

Mitchell says he hopes to move quickly on the legislation and hopes to introduce it in October.