Citing passenger safety concerns, NYC Ferry on Tuesday announced two service changes to the Soundview route that is slated to launch next summer.
While a stop at East 34th Street will be added to give Bronx passengers easier access to Midtown, a proposed stop at East 62nd Street has been nixed because of safety concerns, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) said in a statement.
Because of limited space and “significant” barge traffic, the East 62nd Street stop “would pose serious safety concerns for the regulatory and maritime community that cannot be feasibly solved,” the agency added.
The addition of East 34th Street will provide three stops in Manhattan and easier access to other routes of the Hornblower-operated ferry service along the East River and to Astoria, which launches Aug. 29, and to the Lower East Side, which will also set sail next summer.
NYC Ferry launched a route to Rockaway in early May, with South Brooklyn following later that month.
Since May, more than 1 million passengers have ridden the NYC Ferry service. Due to that popularity, it will add larger engines to three of its 20 ships to increase capacity to 250 riders, the NYCEDC said.
Once the final routes are added next year, NYC Ferry will cover more than 60 miles of New York City waterways. That will likely extend in the future as a homeport for NYC Ferry is under construction at the Brooklyn Navy yard.
The 56,000-square-foot facility will store up to 25 boats, parts, supplies and more and will include a ferry stop when the Lower East Side route launches next year.
Like MetroCard for buses and subways, ferry rides cost $2.75 or $121 for a 30-day unlimited pass.
