This message is to announce that the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, NY, has a ferry service that runs on Monday through Friday, between the Rockaways, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. The official name of the ferry is the Seastreak Rockaway/Brooklyn Army Terminal Ferry. Even though we have had this ferry service since November 2012, immediately after Hurricane Sandy destroyed much of the Rockaways and damaged the local subways infrastructure (the A train and the shuttle train between Beach 116th Street and Broad Channel), many people in Manhattan and Brooklyn do not know that this ferry service exists. The ferry leaves and returns to the Rockaways from the Rockaway Landing Ferry Terminal on Beach 108th Street and Beach Channel Drive (overlooking Jamaica Bay). There is a free parking lot for ferry riders across the street from the ferry terminal. The ferry stops at Brooklyn Army Terminal in Red Hook, Pier 11/Wall Street, and 34th Street/FDR Drive. Five ferries run in the morning and five ferries run in the afternoon. This is the ferry schedule: seastreakusa/viewpage.aspx?page=Brooklyn The initial purpose of ferry service in the Rockaways was to replace the subway (which would require months of repair) as a means for commuters to get to work in Manhattan every week day. But when subway service was restored in the Rockaways in May 2013, the demand to keep ferry service as well as high ridership numbers on the ferry convinced former Mayor Bloomberg to grant extensions to the ferry service. Mayor Bloomberg ultimately extended the ferry until January 2014. Then the fate of the ferrys future was placed into Mayor de Blasios hands. In August 2013, the ferry began making stops at Brooklyn Army Terminal in Red Hook while repairs (from Sandy) were being made on the R subway line in Brooklyn. Despite its popularity and the fact that all five NYC borough presidents all signed a letter requesting the mayor to make ferry service permanent, and the elected officials in Rockaway and Brooklyn are in favor of keeping the ferry, Mayor de Blasio decided not to include the ferrys operating costs into the annual NYC fiscal budget for 2014-5. At the present time, the ferry is funded only through October 2014, which coincides with the time that service is expected to be resumed on the R line in Brooklyn. As soon as the funding ends in October, our ferry will sail away forever ... Many Rockaway and Brooklyn residents as well as elected officials are fighting to keep our ferry and make ferry service permanent. New York State Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder (District 23 in Rockaway, Queens) has started an online petition to save the ferry. assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Phillip-Goldfeder/story/52359 The same petition has been printed for people to go out and collect signatures. Our goal is to obtain over 100,000 signatures on this petition and present it to Mayor de Blasio, to show him just how many people support the ferry and want to see it remain with us. Since its inception since Hurricane Sandy, the ferry has proven to be an enormous help to our community, giving thousands of our residents a viable transportation alternative for commuting to their jobs in Manhattan, while also helping many of our local businesses by bringing visitors from Manhattan and Brooklyn out to Rockaway, especially during the crucial summer tourism season. All ferry riders can bring their bicycles and surf boards on the ferry. The ferry is the quickest way to travel to and from Manhattan and Brooklyn and the views from the ferry are breathtaking and phenomenal. There are also many amenities that come with riding on the ferry: there are no steps to climb to get on and off the ferry. There are no delays - no traffic jams, no signal problems, no service shutdowns or fast track. The ferries have snack bars which offer hot and cold beverages, light snacks, and beer, wine, and spirits. Riders can charge their cell phones and plug in their computers on the ferry. Restrooms are also available on board. Commuters have the choice of riding inside climate-controlled cabins or sitting outside on open decks. The ride is quiet and comfortable. Everyone smiles on the ferry. Happiness seems to be contagious among ferry riders. One-way tickets per rider cost $3.50. Ridership numbers on the Seastreak Rockaway/BAT Ferry has increased about 20 per cent since last year. However, it is crucial that we increase ridership numbers. Hopefully, if you didnt know about our ferry service before, you will ride on our ferry now and discover just how wonderful it is. Spread the word - tell all of your friends and relatives about the ferry. The more riders we get, the better our chances of reversing decisions and making the ferry permanent. It is also important that you go online and sign Phil Goldfeders petition to save the ferry! Hope to sea everyone on the ferry!
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 13:40:23 +0000
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