Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY – The abrupt shutdown of winter ferry travel between Manhattan and Williamsburg and DUMBO is a result of the city's failure to properly subsidize the service.
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"We've been led to believe that the city is ready, willing and able to assist us, but we're still waiting for them to decide what role they want to play in supporting waterborne transportation," said Tom Fox, operator of the Red Hook-based ferry service.
He said that the Water Taxi was forced to shut down this route from Jan. 1 to May 1 because the company would lose $2,000 a day if it continued to shuttle commuters during the winter months. He cited rising fuel costs and declining ridership during cold weather.
The Bloomberg administration's proposal calls for expanded ferry service across the East River, and the city's EDC solicited proposals from ferry companies in March to provide year-round service to three new ferry landings in Greenpoint and Williamsburg — but to date the city has not provided direct subsidies to underwrite the service.
Now, with the cancellation of winter ferry service from existing ports like the Schaefer Landing in Williamsburg it has cast doubt on whether ferry service is viable at all.
The Schafer Landing condominiums — which opened last year — highlighted the ferry as a selling point for the Manhattan-bound commuters who can afford its luxury residences.
The loss of ferry service could have a major impact on the value of those apartments.
"Many of our tenants were expecting a reliable water taxi service year-round," said Don Capoccia of BFC Partners, the developer. "It's a great service, but no transit service is truly viable unless it is totally reliable and that is obviously not the case here." [Adam F. Hutton at brooklynpaper]
Anonymous said… January 7, 2008 1:16 PM
You see what you want to see. You are not even ashamed to admit.
Facts is many Frum Mom’s used the water taxi and a trip to a specialist in NYU or even just to visit a sick relative or somebody who had a new baby took less than 10 minutes.
Instead of ruining a woman’s entire day because of a doctors appointment, it was as simple as hopping on the Ferry. My family used it all the time.
What we need is MORE service on this ferry line. The hipsters are “Artistan” as you call them, don’t even use it. E34th street in Manhattan is full of doctors offices all around. They use more the L train into 14th Street where all the galleries are.
Yes but I never sow any yiddisha person go on this ship only the shkootsim and shikses
Anonymous January 6, 2008 6:23 PM:
OK… And maybe the Yidishe Moms will have to schlep for 2 hour to NYU Hospital where now they just hoped on the ferry and where there in 10 minutes door to door.
You know… After all they don’t drive. Do you know how much this ferry service helped out our Heimish families?
The alternative was take a car service for a lot of money, take 3 city buses or schlep with the Subway with your baby carriage.
This ferry service was a very good thing for us! BTW… I think you should learn to spell.
Good, maybe this vay the artistan will leave villiamburg