Rockaway Ferry Sets Sail May 1

ROCKAWAY, QUEENS — NYC's new ferries will begin serving Rockaway commuters May 1, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday.

"Rockaway residents have some of the longest commute times in the city," said de Blasio. "We promised we'd bring them our new NYC Ferry service first."

The ferry service, now officially named NYC Ferry, will begin serving Rockaway residents one month ahead of schedule.

The Rockaway ferry will carry passengers from Rockaway to Pier 11 on Wall Street in one hour, with a stop at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.

Construction is near completion on some of the landings that will accommodate the new high-tech ferries, some of which arrived in the city this week with more to depart Louisiana and Alabama shipyards in the coming weeks, the Mayor said.

The 22 ferries in the city's new fleet are expected to make a total of 4.6 million trips per year in hopes of providing access to public transportation in underserved areas of NYC. Each ride will cost $2.75, and allow free transfers between ferry routes.

"Fares pegged to MTA rates are a good start," said Council Member Carlos Menchaca. "But our goal must be true fare integration with free transfers honored between our new NYC Ferry and MTA subways and buses."

Additional lines will begin service in the near future. The South Brooklyn route, with stops in Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Red Hook and Brooklyn Bridge Park, will become active June 1. The Astoria route will launch in August.

Lower East Side and Soundview routes will launch sometime in 2018.

"If you look at a map of New York, you'll see a whole lot of blue," said Council Member Vincent Gentile.

"Indeed, before there was a city, there was a harbor. Right along with San Francisco and Hong Kong, New York City has one of the greatest natural harbors in the entire world."

NYC Ferry is accepting applications for captains and deckhands. Those interested can apply through the City Department of Small Business Services, Workforce 1 centers, Brooklyn Navy Yard's Employment Center or online, at ferry.nyc.

Watch the construction of the high-tech catamarans here.

Image courtesy of NYC Mayor's office