20 May 2014
NEW YORK - New York Water Taxi announced today the launch of its Westside Ferry service, connecting commuters on the Far West Side and Lower Manhattan, with a week of free rides.
The new route is the first North-South, intra-Manhattan ferry service on the Hudson River targeted specifically to commuters. The Westside Ferry will run every 15 minutes during rush hour between Hudson River Park's Pier 84 (at West 44th St.) and Brookfield Place (World Financial Center), connecting residents of the booming but transit-starved Far West Side with new office space in Lower Manhattan.
“We are proud to launch the Westside Ferry today, which will connect two rapidly growing neighborhoods and give commuters a fun, practical, and efficient new way to get around,” said Helena Durst, President of New York Water Taxi. “As more and more New Yorkers live and work on the waterfront, ferries will be a critical link in the region's transportation network.”
“New York Water Taxi's Westside Ferry will provide New Yorkers with a critical and exciting new option for commuting within the City," said NYCEDC Chief Operating Officer Zac Smith. "This is another step forward in opening our City's 520 miles of shorelines to all New Yorkers, and I commend New York Water Taxi for its vision."
“Thousands of New Yorkers will have access to quick, affordable, frequent and comfortable transportation between the far West side and Brookfield Place on the blue highway,” said Roland Lewis, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance (MWA). “This is an exciting and long overdue development.”
“A key to a vibrant New York is a vibrant multi-modal transportation network,” said
Jessica Lappin, President of the Alliance for Downtown New York. “This Ferry
service provides something new and tremendously exciting to the array of options for getting to Lower Manhattan: it reintroduces the mighty Hudson as a commuting thoroughfare.”
“We are delighted that water taxis are becoming a popular public transit alternative to taxis and other vehicles which are clogging up our already congested streets downtown,” added Catherine McVay Hughes, Community Board 1 Chair.
The new ferry service will cost $8 roundtrip, with volume discounts planned for everyday riders. New York Water Taxi will seek to supplement the fare with sponsorships from developments and residential buildings on the Far West Side and in Lower Manhattan.
About New York Water Taxi
New York Water Taxi (NYWT), an affiliate company of The Durst Organization, Inc., has been a New York fixture since 2002. NYWT is known for its iconic black and yellow-checkered vessels and as a connector of the waterfront throughout the five boroughs and New Jersey providing service to IKEA Brooklyn, large scale events on Randall's island and many other transportation services. NYWT's maintains a community-conscious fleet that honors our cherished waterways. For more information, please visit www.nywatertaxi.com.
