The rain on Wednesday made for a small lake in the parking lot on Beach 108th street. It looks like the ferry parking lot needs a ferry.So it’s May. What does that mean to ferry riders? Well, in January, when the Mayor and the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced they would be extending the ferry for three months, with an option to extend until August, we thought the arrival of this month might come with an announcement. Nothing doing.
At the time of the January announcement, the mayor said “We are committed to the Rockaways’ recovery. From accelerating rebuilding programs to today’s fer- ry extension, we are going to keep our focus on communities hit hard by Sandy to ensure no one is left behind.” The same day, the EDC announced that it would issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to determine the potential for longterm service.
The extension came with a price. When the ferry was instituted after Sandy the cost of a one-way trip was $2. When the mayor extended the service in January, 2014 the cost shot up to $3.50, a fare that was still highly subsidized.
The price increase was expected to have a negative impact on ridership. The extent of that would determine if the service would be extended until August. It was said that if ridership held at 50 percent or more of pre-fare increase, the ferry would get an extension until August.
The fare increase and a severe winter took their toll on ridership but by all accounts, the average number of daily passengers stayed well above the 50 percent mark.
As for the RFP for long-term service, an EDC rep said the agency is still evaluating responses and will make an announcement “shortly.”
In a citywide ferry study, the EDC concluded: “As demand for ferries continues to increase and New York City’s relationship with its waterfront evolves, it is important to pursue thoughtful planning solutions to identify opportunities to fill transit gaps through waterborne transportation.”
If EDC is looking for an opportunity, Rockaway is onboard.
No comments:
Post a Comment