Thousands of riders benefit from service continuing through the winter months

City Hall – City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Seth W. Pinsky, President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation today announced that year-round ferry service has been secured for the East River ferry route, resulting in uninterrupted service for commuters through 2010. The announcement is the most recent step in the Speaker’s and Mayor’s continuing effort to provide year-round ferry service to New Yorkers.

In June 2008, East River ferry service connecting Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn was announced. However, that service was scheduled to expire November 1st 2008. Recognizing the critical service that riders depend on, Speaker Quinn, together with New York Water Taxi and the City, successfully secured the year-round service that Speaker Quinn announced in her 2008 State of the City address.

New York Water Taxi schedules can be found at www.nywatertaxi.com.

“In February 2008, we announced an ambitious initiative to make five-borough ferry service a reality in New York City,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “Today, we have taken yet another step by making the East River route truly year-round. Ferries offer New Yorkers an affordable, convenient and environmentally responsible way of getting around town. By making ferries a key part of our city’s transportation infrastructure, we are helping to ensure that New York City remains a shining example of urban sustainability for cities all over the world.”

“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with NY Water Taxi to continue this crucial ferry service throughout the winter,” said Seth W. Pinsky, President, New York City Economic Development Corporation, the agency that negotiated with NY Water Taxi on behalf of the City. “This service is another example of the Mayor’s commitment to waterborne transportation and a more sustainable New York City. Ferry service is an efficient way for the commuters of South Williamsburg, Hunter’s Point South and DUMBO to connect with Midtown and Lower Manhattan.

Tom Fox, President of New York Water Taxi said, “Waterborne transportation is increasingly important to the growing residential communities along the East River and we are pleased to be working with the City to provide this service during the winter months.”

“It’s been a long fight, but residents of the Williamsburg waterfront will finally have the year-round ferry service they were always promised,” said Council Member David Yassky. “I have fought hard for this development, and so have the hundreds of waterfront residents that wrote letters, made phone calls and sent emails. This sends a strong message that the thousands of people moving in along the Brooklyn waterfront can feel confident about that decision. It also makes clear that New York is a green and innovative city committed to investing in its people and its future.”