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Already Paid For, Extra Ferries Sail Anyway
12/16/2002 10:09 AM
By: NY1 News
The city’s contingency plans for a transit strike are on hold as negotiations continue — except for nine free ferry routes, which have already been paid for.

New York Waterway put 30 additional boats on the water Monday, for a total of around 90. The ferry company says it signed a contract with the city to operate the service for three days, so for now it’s the only contingency plan that has been implemented.

The company shuttles some 32,000 commuters to Manhattan daily, and many more were expected if subways and buses stopped running and the streets clogged with traffic. But the only people taking advantage of the service Monday morning were regulars.

“It’s actually been a little bit light,” said Bill Bouffard, chief operating officer of New York Waterway. “I think a lot of people stayed home today in anticipation of a three-ring service in Manhattan. But basically, we’re running all the service that we committed to run for the city, including the potential strike service.”

Riders were pleasantly surprised that the ferries were still free, and they were happy that their only inconvenience so far was waking up a little earlier than usual.

“A strike doesn’t affect me, because take the ferry anyway. I drive in from Sunnyside, and I take the ferry to Pier 11 every morning,” said one woman boarding an early ferry. “I was just afraid about everybody from Long Island and people who couldn’t make it in from Queens. But so far it’s alright.”

New York Waterway said it would contact the Office of Emergency Management after the morning rush to decide if the extra service should continue to run if there is still no transit strike.

Passengers must still pay for ferries from New Jersey or Long Island.

CITY'S CONTINGENCY FERRY SERVICE

Manhattan:
  • W. 125th St. to W. 38th St. - every 20 minutes during peak hours
  • W. 69th St. to W. 38th St.- every 20 minutes during peak hours
  • W. 38th St. to the World Financial Center - every 30 minutes during peak hours
  • E. 34th St. to Pier 11 (Wall St.) and Whitehall Terminal - every hour during peak hours

    Queens:
  • Shea Stadium to E. 34th St. - every 20 minutes 5 AM - 10 AM and 3 PM - 10 PM. No service 10 AM - 3 PM unless there is a need.
  • Hunters Point, Long Island City to E. 34th St.- every 5 minutes during peak hours
  • Hunters Point, Long Island City to Pier 11, Wall St. - every 10 minutes during peak hours

    Brooklyn:
  • Brooklyn Army Terminal to Battery Park - every 15 minutes 5 AM - 11 AM and 5 PM - 10 PM, every 30 minutes from 11 AM - 5 PM.
  • Sheepshead Bay to Pier 16 (South St. Seaport) - every 10 minutes during peak hours.

    Service will operate from 5 AM to 10 PM, except for Shea Stadium service, which will be offered from 5 AM to 11 AM and 2 PM to 10 PM. Except where indicated, peak hours are 5 AM - 10 AM and 2 PM - 8 PM. During non-peak hours, all service will be hourly, except from Shea Stadium. Hours for Brooklyn Army Terminal service are subject to revision.

    NY Waterway currently operates service from E. 90th St. to E. 34th St. and Pier 11 which will continue. All other existing private ferry services will continue.


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