Post by ferryfast admin on Apr 30, 2012 12:01:30 GMT -5
Ferry operator takes steps to fill seats in off-hours
Monday, April 30, 2012
BY KAREN ROUSE
STAFF WRITER
www.northjersey.com/news/business/149455665_Ferry_operator_takes_steps_to_fill_seats_in_off-hours.html
Hudson River ferry operator NY Waterway is hoping to boost its customer base during weekends and the off-peak weekday periods by giving customers the option of purchasing theater, dinner and other New York City-based activity tickets at the same time they purchase ferry tickets online.
The Your Key to the City program launches Tuesday, when customers will be able to purchase tickets to ride NY Waterway, as well as tickets to New York tourist events.
"We want to get away from just being perceived as a transportation provider," said Arthur Imperatore Jr., executive vice president of NY Waterway. The new service is designed to "rebrand the company as a lifestyle provider, something for people in the suburbs going into New York City."
He said commuters make up 75 percent of the service's customers. "During the off-peak hours we lose money," he said.
Adult fares from Port Imperial to Manhattan are $9 each way, $18 round trip.
Imperatore acknowledges the fare is steeper than a train, bus or car trip into the city, but said the ferries are faster. "You get what you pay for," he said.
He said the next step in boosting service is to work with NJ Transit to improve connections between bus and rail service and the ferry service for workday commuters. Bus, rail and ferry service operate all operate out of the newly redesigned Hoboken Ferry Terminal.
NJ Transit owns the Hoboken terminal property and NY Waterway is a tenant.
"That's the only way to generate trans-Hudson capacity without spending billions of dollars," he said.
Governor Christie in 2010 killed a Hudson River tunnel project that was geared toward giving commuters additional access into New York. With that project dead, NJ Transit Executive Director Jim Weinstein has said recently that he is looking to ferry service as one several options for increasing access to New York for North Jersey commuters.
Email: rouse@northjersey.com
________________________
New York Waterway
www.nywaterway.com/
Monday, April 30, 2012
BY KAREN ROUSE
STAFF WRITER
www.northjersey.com/news/business/149455665_Ferry_operator_takes_steps_to_fill_seats_in_off-hours.html
Hudson River ferry operator NY Waterway is hoping to boost its customer base during weekends and the off-peak weekday periods by giving customers the option of purchasing theater, dinner and other New York City-based activity tickets at the same time they purchase ferry tickets online.
The Your Key to the City program launches Tuesday, when customers will be able to purchase tickets to ride NY Waterway, as well as tickets to New York tourist events.
"We want to get away from just being perceived as a transportation provider," said Arthur Imperatore Jr., executive vice president of NY Waterway. The new service is designed to "rebrand the company as a lifestyle provider, something for people in the suburbs going into New York City."
He said commuters make up 75 percent of the service's customers. "During the off-peak hours we lose money," he said.
Adult fares from Port Imperial to Manhattan are $9 each way, $18 round trip.
Imperatore acknowledges the fare is steeper than a train, bus or car trip into the city, but said the ferries are faster. "You get what you pay for," he said.
He said the next step in boosting service is to work with NJ Transit to improve connections between bus and rail service and the ferry service for workday commuters. Bus, rail and ferry service operate all operate out of the newly redesigned Hoboken Ferry Terminal.
NJ Transit owns the Hoboken terminal property and NY Waterway is a tenant.
"That's the only way to generate trans-Hudson capacity without spending billions of dollars," he said.
Governor Christie in 2010 killed a Hudson River tunnel project that was geared toward giving commuters additional access into New York. With that project dead, NJ Transit Executive Director Jim Weinstein has said recently that he is looking to ferry service as one several options for increasing access to New York for North Jersey commuters.
Email: rouse@northjersey.com
________________________
New York Waterway
www.nywaterway.com/