Bronx residents have sailed into a new commute to Manhattan and beyond as the NYC Ferry launched its much-anticipated Soundview route Wednesday morning.
The new route offers service from Soundview/Clason Point to East 90th Street, East 34th Street and Pier 11/Wall Street — in about 45 minutes.
“We are adding another stop on our route to becoming the fairest big city in America,” Mayor de Blasio said. “The new Soundview ferry will cut commute times in half for thousands of Bronxites. Our all-of-the-above approach to transit gives New Yorkers reliable options to get where they need to go.”
At 34th Street and Wall Street/Pier 11, Soundview passengers are able to transfer for free to the East River, Rockaway, Astoria and South Brooklyn NYC Ferry routes.
“This long-awaited, much-anticipated ferry service has the potential to dramatically improve the commutes not only of Soundview residents, but of Bronxites in every community,” Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said.
To further serve Bronx residents who can take advantage of the NYC Ferry, the Bx27 bus now includes a stop at Clason Point Park. The bus connects customers in the Shorehaven, Clason Point and Soundview neighborhoods to the Morrison Avenue-Soundview 6 subway station. Prior to this extension, the Bx27 terminated on Soundview Avenue about 1,000 feet northwest of the ferry landing.
NYC Ferry gives new option to UES residents, too
Not only is the Soundview launch beneficial to Bronx residents, it also gives a new travel option to those who live on the Upper East Side with the East 90th Street stop.
“The new Soundview Route will give New Yorkers who live and work on the East side a fast, affordable and convenient way to get around the city,” said state Sen. Brad Hoylman. “Ferries are an innovative solution to our city’s transit crisis, and thanks to work of NYDEC and NYC Ferry, more New Yorkers will have the opportunity to step off our crowded trains and buses and breathe in the fresh harbor air.”
Since its launch in May 2017, the NYC Ferry has served more than 5 million riders, and the addition of the Soundview route is expected to add about 400,000 more each year. And with the Aug. 29 launch of the Lower East Side route, ridership is expected to increase even more.
