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After several
failed attempts to bring commuter ferries to the Rockaway peninsula, the
city floated the idea again yesterday with a new twist: a promise of significant
public subsidies.
"The question was never 'Should we do it?', but 'How can we do this?'"
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference on the Rockaway boardwalk
announcing that the city is seeking ferry proposals from private operators.
"It takes a lot of money to get a boat and it takes a while to build
an audience," Bloomberg said.
"One of the things we can do is to give people some support until
it gets going."
The willingness to foot part of the bill for a Rockaways ferry marks
a reversal of the city's position from two years ago, when the Department
of Transportation said of such a service: "Our policy is not to be
involved in subsidies."
Past efforts to connect the remote Rockaways to Manhattan by boat have
been sunk by high costs.
A pilot weekend ferry in 2003 failed because of its price - $26 round
trip.
Twice since then, the DOT has sought Rockaways ferry proposals, but got
no takers.
This time, city officials said, they would like to keep the fare to $4
each way, the same as express bus service into Manhattan.
"I think you're going to see something happen because the city has
said this time they're willing to provide some assistance," said
Jim DeSimone, chief of ferry operations for the Department of Transportation.
Bloomberg said the amount of the city subsidy won't be determined until
companies submit proposals to the Economic Development Corp. City Councilman
Joseph Addabbo estimated it would cost the city at least $1 million a
year to make the ferry service attractive for a private operator to run.
"You've got a population growth here like no other place in the
city and it can support a ferry, if the deal is structured correctly,"
Addabbo said.
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills), in a statement, said the city had
committed $3 million to $6 million for a three-year pilot program. In
2004, Weiner secured $15 million in federal transportation funds, which
has not yet been spent, to buy three boats for a Rockaways ferry service.
City transportation officials envision a ferry between Riis Landing and
Pier 11 in lower Manhattan, although private operators may propose other
stops in Manhattan or Brooklyn to increase ridership.
With the average commute from the Rockaways to Manhattan clocking in
at between 90 minutes and two hours each way, residents said they hope
this ferry plan sticks. The city estimates a ferry would take about 45
minutes to an hour each way.
"Rockaway is a hidden jewel in New York City and we need to get
better transportation here," said Mary Dever Kelly of the Rockaway
Park Home and Residents Association. | 
