Mayor de Blasio came to the Lower East Side this morning to herald the arrival of the sixth and final route in the city’s new ferry system. He gathered with community leaders at Corlears Hook, where service is now being offered up the east side, across to Queens and down to Wall Street.
You can find route details here.
The mayor was introduced today by Michael Marino, a resident of the East River Co-op and head of Friends of Corlears Hook Park. During brief remarks, Marino said the ferry would make commuting to work a lot easier for many locals (including himself) and also be a big boost for the park.
The Lower East Side route makes stops at East 34th Street, Stuyvesant Cove and Pier 11, in addition to Long Island City and Corlears Hook. Since launching in May of last year, the ferry has carried more than 6 million passengers. The mayor said, “NYC ferries have turned the East River, which once divided New Yorkers, into a point of connection – and are helping us build a fairer city for all. With the launch of the Lower East Side route and the connecting NYC Ferry lines, residents of this historic neighborhood now have greater access to the rest of our city.”
Throughout Corlears Hook Park, the city has installed signage directing people to the ferry. During community meetings, some residents have expressed concerns about the transportation infrastructure to get people from the ferry to their final destinations. This morning, at least, there were plenty of bikes in the Corlears Hook Citi Bike station. Locals have also been urging the MTA to step up service on the 14A bus, which stops on Cherry Street at Jackson Street.
Walking briskly this morning, we made it from Grand Street and Pitt Street to the ferry landing in just over 9 minutes.
