Post by ferryfast admin on Feb 18, 2006 0:31:10 GMT -5
Ferry moves close to reality
By KHURRAM SAEED AND CAREN HALBFINGER
ksaeed@lohud.com
THE JOURNAL NEWS
www.nyjournalnews.com/
(Original publication: February 16, 2006)
A one-seat ride to Manhattan, which Rockland commuters have long dreamed about, might soon be reality.
Residents would be able to travel from Haverstraw village by high-speed ferry, via Yonkers, to the financial district on Manhattan's west side or to Pier 11, near Wall Street.
The trip would last 70 to 80 minutes, and there would be two or three ferries leaving from Rockland in the morning and the same number returning in the evening.
Riding the ferry would cost about $500 a month.
The Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had been expected to select a ferry operator next week from the two companies that bid on the project. But a paperwork holdup pushed the vote to next month.
Despite the delay, the new ferry service might start as early as May.
The bidders are NY Waterway, which operates the Haverstraw-to-Ossining ferry that connects riders to Metro-North Railroad trains, and New York Water Taxi.
There is a chance the service may not include Rockland, although county transportation officials deny that is a possibility, since the ferry operator has to serve both Rockland and West- chester in order to receive millions in federal funding.
The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has set aside $4.2 million for the project. The money would pay for operational expenses.
The ferry is seeking to attract county residents who drive alone to lower Manhattan.
According to 2000 census figures, 11,210 Rockland workers either drove alone or carpooled to jobs in Manhattan — two-thirds of the county residents who work in Manhattan. Some 1,200 people who live in eastern Orange County and work in lower Manhattan also might consider using the ferry.
Rockland transportation officials are optimistic that commuters would be willing to ditch their cars and pay a premium fare if they didn't have to switch between trains, buses and subways, received a relaxing ride and shaved at least 30 minutes off their daily commute.
"We see it as the first one-seat ride emanating from Rockland," said James Yarmus, first deputy commissioner of Rockland County's public transportation department.
Taking the ferry would be cheaper than driving, which is estimated to cost $45 a day, counting fuel, wear and tear, tolls and maintenance, but does not include parking. Convincing potential riders to leave their cars behind will take some doing.
The ferry would become the most expensive mass transit option from Rockland, costing a rider anywhere from $20 to $25 per round trip.
By comparison, the cheapest way to commute to lower Manhattan is by using NJ Transit and the PATH train. The Port Authority estimates the round-trip costs $12.20 and takes 95 minutes during rush hour.
"We're giving you one hour a day more of your life," said Pat Smith, a spokesman for NY Waterway. "What is that worth to you? To a lot of people, it would be worth a lot."
Rockland officials said having 50 to 75 regular riders in the first year would be a success.
But New City resident Kevin Cowen had his doubts about who would take the ferry.
"People who can afford ($500 a month) aren't going home at 6 o'clock," said Cowen, who works as a business-development manager for an online marketing company in Soho. "They're working until 7 or 8, and their schedule needs to be flexible."
The 41-year-old typically drives across the Tappan Zee Bridge and catches a Metro-North Railroad train in White Plains. Once a month, Cowen drives to his job for the days that he plans to stay late so he can catch a Yankees game or needs to leave early so he can get home to coach his 6-year-old son's Little League team.
"People are looking for the most cost-effective, the most time-effective manner to get to the city," said Cowen, who spends about $300 on his monthly commute.
Susan Meyer, spokeswoman for Rockland County's planning and public transportation departments, said people who valued their time would be willing to pay a little extra for the ferry.
Although they might not use the ferry every day, she said, getting them off the road for even a couple of days a week — if, indeed, working around irregular schedules was an issue — would be an important first step to easing congestion on the region's roads.
"The more options we are able to offer people, the more likely they are to use one of them," Meyer said.
Another significant factor to consider is the new Harbors at Haverstraw condominium development.
The riverfront complex will eventually feature 890 units, and, officials believe, will attract people looking for easy access to midtown or downtown. The ferry dock is within walking distance of the complex.
Only NY Waterway would be ready for a May start date.
New York Water Taxi won't have the appropriate watercraft available until July and argued that it would be better to launch the service then, rather than using a noisy, older ferry that would cause more disturbance to underwater ecosystems.
"We really think that the commuter to Wall Street wants a quality service," said Tom Fox, New York Water Taxi's owner. "You want a quiet, comfortable, relaxing ride to work and to be able to work on your laptop."
Fox said his catamarans would have a sound system, quiet motors, cabins that float on shock absorbers and a concession stand that would serve cappuccino and hot chocolate in the morning and beer and wine in the evening, with Bloomberg's Financial Network and CNN on television.
NY Waterway would use high-speed catamarans, which are faster and more sensitive to icing conditions, but which also incorporate low-hull designs to minimize environmental disturbances, Smith said.
Although the company has had no weather-related shutdowns so far this winter, it shut down for four weeks last winter and for 3 1/2 weeks in 2004.
Cowan said he would consider taking the ferry if the price was right.
"Five hundred dollars a month is crazy. At that price, maybe I'll just wait for the new bridge with the train," he joked, referring to a proposal that would feature a one-seat commuter train ride from Rockland to Manhattan over a new Tappan Zee Bridge.
By KHURRAM SAEED AND CAREN HALBFINGER
ksaeed@lohud.com
THE JOURNAL NEWS
www.nyjournalnews.com/
(Original publication: February 16, 2006)
A one-seat ride to Manhattan, which Rockland commuters have long dreamed about, might soon be reality.
Residents would be able to travel from Haverstraw village by high-speed ferry, via Yonkers, to the financial district on Manhattan's west side or to Pier 11, near Wall Street.
The trip would last 70 to 80 minutes, and there would be two or three ferries leaving from Rockland in the morning and the same number returning in the evening.
Riding the ferry would cost about $500 a month.
The Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had been expected to select a ferry operator next week from the two companies that bid on the project. But a paperwork holdup pushed the vote to next month.
Despite the delay, the new ferry service might start as early as May.
The bidders are NY Waterway, which operates the Haverstraw-to-Ossining ferry that connects riders to Metro-North Railroad trains, and New York Water Taxi.
There is a chance the service may not include Rockland, although county transportation officials deny that is a possibility, since the ferry operator has to serve both Rockland and West- chester in order to receive millions in federal funding.
The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has set aside $4.2 million for the project. The money would pay for operational expenses.
The ferry is seeking to attract county residents who drive alone to lower Manhattan.
According to 2000 census figures, 11,210 Rockland workers either drove alone or carpooled to jobs in Manhattan — two-thirds of the county residents who work in Manhattan. Some 1,200 people who live in eastern Orange County and work in lower Manhattan also might consider using the ferry.
Rockland transportation officials are optimistic that commuters would be willing to ditch their cars and pay a premium fare if they didn't have to switch between trains, buses and subways, received a relaxing ride and shaved at least 30 minutes off their daily commute.
"We see it as the first one-seat ride emanating from Rockland," said James Yarmus, first deputy commissioner of Rockland County's public transportation department.
Taking the ferry would be cheaper than driving, which is estimated to cost $45 a day, counting fuel, wear and tear, tolls and maintenance, but does not include parking. Convincing potential riders to leave their cars behind will take some doing.
The ferry would become the most expensive mass transit option from Rockland, costing a rider anywhere from $20 to $25 per round trip.
By comparison, the cheapest way to commute to lower Manhattan is by using NJ Transit and the PATH train. The Port Authority estimates the round-trip costs $12.20 and takes 95 minutes during rush hour.
"We're giving you one hour a day more of your life," said Pat Smith, a spokesman for NY Waterway. "What is that worth to you? To a lot of people, it would be worth a lot."
Rockland officials said having 50 to 75 regular riders in the first year would be a success.
But New City resident Kevin Cowen had his doubts about who would take the ferry.
"People who can afford ($500 a month) aren't going home at 6 o'clock," said Cowen, who works as a business-development manager for an online marketing company in Soho. "They're working until 7 or 8, and their schedule needs to be flexible."
The 41-year-old typically drives across the Tappan Zee Bridge and catches a Metro-North Railroad train in White Plains. Once a month, Cowen drives to his job for the days that he plans to stay late so he can catch a Yankees game or needs to leave early so he can get home to coach his 6-year-old son's Little League team.
"People are looking for the most cost-effective, the most time-effective manner to get to the city," said Cowen, who spends about $300 on his monthly commute.
Susan Meyer, spokeswoman for Rockland County's planning and public transportation departments, said people who valued their time would be willing to pay a little extra for the ferry.
Although they might not use the ferry every day, she said, getting them off the road for even a couple of days a week — if, indeed, working around irregular schedules was an issue — would be an important first step to easing congestion on the region's roads.
"The more options we are able to offer people, the more likely they are to use one of them," Meyer said.
Another significant factor to consider is the new Harbors at Haverstraw condominium development.
The riverfront complex will eventually feature 890 units, and, officials believe, will attract people looking for easy access to midtown or downtown. The ferry dock is within walking distance of the complex.
Only NY Waterway would be ready for a May start date.
New York Water Taxi won't have the appropriate watercraft available until July and argued that it would be better to launch the service then, rather than using a noisy, older ferry that would cause more disturbance to underwater ecosystems.
"We really think that the commuter to Wall Street wants a quality service," said Tom Fox, New York Water Taxi's owner. "You want a quiet, comfortable, relaxing ride to work and to be able to work on your laptop."
Fox said his catamarans would have a sound system, quiet motors, cabins that float on shock absorbers and a concession stand that would serve cappuccino and hot chocolate in the morning and beer and wine in the evening, with Bloomberg's Financial Network and CNN on television.
NY Waterway would use high-speed catamarans, which are faster and more sensitive to icing conditions, but which also incorporate low-hull designs to minimize environmental disturbances, Smith said.
Although the company has had no weather-related shutdowns so far this winter, it shut down for four weeks last winter and for 3 1/2 weeks in 2004.
Cowan said he would consider taking the ferry if the price was right.
"Five hundred dollars a month is crazy. At that price, maybe I'll just wait for the new bridge with the train," he joked, referring to a proposal that would feature a one-seat commuter train ride from Rockland to Manhattan over a new Tappan Zee Bridge.