NY Waterway

NY Waterway

Locale	New Jersey New York
Waterway	Hudson River East River Upper Bay Lower Bay
Transit type	passenger ferry excursions sightseeing
Operator	NY Waterway
Began operation	December 3, 1986
No. of lines	23
No. of vessels	34
No. of terminals	21
Daily ridership	Approximately 30,000[1]
Owner	Arthur Imperatore
Website	http://www.nywaterway.com/ NY Waterway

Weehawken headquarters and terminal

NY Waterway, or New York Waterway, is a private transportation company running ferry and bus service in the Port of New York and New Jersey and in the Hudson Valley. While operations and much marketing come under the NY Waterway logo, the company works with other private companies and in public-private partnership with agencies such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New Jersey Transit, New York City Department of Transportation, and Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to provide service and maintain docking facilities.^[2] In 2009, the fleet included 33 boats, 15 of which are operated by the company for its associate Billybey Ferry.^[3]

NY Waterway uses ferry slips at four terminals in Manhattan as well as terminals and slips in Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, and Edgewater, all located along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, and at landings on the East River in Brooklyn and Long Island City. Commuter peak service is also provided on the Haverstraw–Ossining Ferry, Newburgh–Beacon Ferry, and to the Raritan Bayshore. Excursions and sightseeing trips ^[4] include those to Yankee Stadium,^[5] Gateway National Recreation Area, and Governor's Island.

History

Founding

In 1981 Arthur Edward Imperatore, Sr., a trucking magnate, purchased a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) length of the Weehawken, New Jersey waterfront, where the company is based,^[6] from the bankrupt Penn Central for $7.5 million, with the plan to redevelop the brownfield site as had others along the west bank of the Hudson River waterfront and to restore ferry service to it. In 1986 he established New York Waterway,^[1] with a route across the river between Weehawken Port Imperial and Pier 78 on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan. Three years later, it began operation between Hoboken Terminal and Battery Park City.^[7][8] During the course of the next decade numerous routes across the Hudson were added.^[9] In February 2011 it was contracted to operate a route calling at slips in Brooklyn and Queens as well as the East River terminals.^[10] Subsidized by the City of New York, the service was originally intended for commuters, but after a few months became popular with weekend users and tourists.^[11]

Most vessels used by NY Waterway are "bow-loading"

Expansion and near bankruptcy

The September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center destroyed the PATH terminal located there, greatly reducing cross-Hudson River passenger capacity. To compensate, NY Waterway service quickly expanded by adding new routes and increasing the frequency of crossings. It borrowed heavily to fund the acquisition of additional vessels. After PATH service was restored ridership significantly declined, the loss of passengers bringing the company, unable to reduce its fixed costs, to brink of bankruptcy. By December 2004, there was deep concern that there would be a total shutdown of ferry service, disrupting the commutes of 30,000 daily riders.^[12] The Port Authority, as well as city and state agencies had already contracted the construction of new ferry terminals to be leased to private operators. The shutdown was averted when the new BillyBey Ferry Company LLC which had never before operated ferry services, founded by Manhattan lawyer William B. Wachtel, agreed to take over almost half of NY Waterway's equipment and routes. Other ferry and sightseeing boat operators were displeased that the Port Authority approved the transfer without a transparent bidding process.^[13]

Rescue operations

Coming to aid of downed Flight 1549

NY Waterway has played a role in a number of rescue and emergency operations.^[14] In the immediate after effects of September 11, 2001 attacks, the company was instrumental in the evacuation of passengers who otherwise would have been stranded^[15] in Manhattan due to the chaos created in the mass transit system. Ferry service also played a important role during the Northeast Blackout of 2003, enabling people to make the river crossing since normal service on New Jersey Transit and Port Authority Trans Hudson trains was temporarily discontinued due to power outages. During the 2005 New York City transit strike it provided alternative transportation. In 2009, the company was instrumental in the rescue of passengers of US Airways Flight 1549, which made an emergency landing on the Hudson River.^[16] The firm gained media attention both for its efforts to rescue passengers from airplane and for its hiring of 20 year-old Brittany Catanzaro as captain. Thanks in a large part to the successful efforts of Captains Vincent Lombardi and Catanzaro, together with their crews, all aboard were rescued.

Terminals and routes

West Midtown Ferry Terminal

West Midtown Ferry Terminal

Edgewater Landing

Route		Transfers
West Midtown Ferry Terminal[17] West Side Highway at West 39th Street Hudson River Park-Midtown Manhattan		NY Waterway buses[18][19] New York City Transit buses M42 and M50
To	Notes
Edgewater Landing [20] Edgewater-Fort Lee	peak service	New Jersey Transit buses NY Waterway buses
Weehawken Port Imperial[21] Weehawken	full service	Hudson Bergen Light Rail New Jersey Transit NY Waterway buses
Lincoln Harbor [22] Weehawken	residents and guests only
14th Street[23] Hoboken	via Lincoln Harbor off-peak	New Jersey Transit bus
Pavonia-Newport[24] Jersey City	peak service
Paulus Hook Ferry Terminal[25] Jersey City	peak service	PATH Hudson Bergen Light Rail New Jersey Transit bus New York Waterway shuttle
Belford Harbor[26] Raritan Bayshore, Monmouth County	limited peak service	via The Narrows & Upper Bay

Battery Park City Ferry Terminal at the World Financial Center

Battery Park City Ferry Terminal (at left) is moored in the Hudson River just north of World Financial Center North Cove

Ferries at Paulus Hook Ferry Terminal, Exchange Place

Route		Transfers
Battery Park City Ferry Terminal[27][28] [29][30][31] at World Financial Center [32] Hudson River Park at Vesey Street Battery Park City, Manhattan		Liberty Water Taxi SeaStreak[33]
To	Notes
Weehawken Port Imperial[34] Weehawken	full service	Hudson Bergen Light Rail New Jersey Transit bus NY Waterway buses
14th Street [35] Hoboken	peak service	New Jersey Transit bus
Hoboken Terminal[36] Hoboken	full service	Port Authority Trans Hudson Hudson Bergen Light Rail NJT & MTA rail Hudson Place bus terminal
Paulus Hook Ferry Terminal[37] Exchange Place, Paulus Hook, Jersey City	peak service	PATH Hudson Bergen Light Rail New Jersey Transit bus New York Waterway shuttle
Liberty Harbor[38] Marin Boulevard, Paulus Hook, Jersey City	full service	Hudson Bergen Light Rail
Belford Harbor[39] Raritan Bayshore, Monmouth County	peak service	via The Narrows & Upper Bay

Pier 11 at Wall Street

At Pier 11 on East River

Route		Transfers
Pier 11 at Wall Street[40] 40°42′13″N 74°00′24″W / 40.703611°N 74.006661°W / 40.703611; -74.006661 South Street at Gouverneur Lane		SeaStreak New York Beach Ferry
To	Notes
Weehawken Port Imperial[41] Weehawken		Hudson Bergen Light Rail New Jersey Transit NY Waterway buses
Hoboken Terminal[42] Hoboken		New Jersey Transit bus Hudson Bergen Light Rail NJT & MTA Rail
Paulus Hook Ferry Terminal[43] Jersey City	rush hour service	PATH Exchange Place Hudson Bergen Light Rail New Jersey Transit bus NY Waterway shuttle
Port Liberte[44] Jersey City	AM peak & aft/eve service	New Jersey Transit bus
Belford Harbor[26] Raritan Bayshore, Monmouth County	peak service	via The Narrows & Upper Bay

East River route

Service operates in both directions with year-round service running every 20 minutes. Peak service runs every 20 minutes, off-peak service runs every 30 minutes during the summer (April-Oct) and hourly during the winter.^[45][46]

East River logo

Route	Transfers
East 34th Street Ferry Landing FDR Drive/34th Street, Manhattan	SeaStreak NY Waterway Bus[47]
Hunters Point-Long Island City Queens	Long Island City (LIRR station)
Greenpoint India Street, Brooklyn
North Williamsburg North Sixth Street, Brooklyn
South Williamsburg Schaefer Landing, Brooklyn
Fulton Ferry Landing Fulton Street, Brooklyn	New York Water Taxi
Pier 11 at Wall Street South Street, Manhattan	New York Waterway SeaStreak New York Beach Ferry

Raritan Bayshore route

Crossing the Upper Bay

Route	Notes
Belford Harbor[48] Raritan Bayshore -Middletown-Monmuth County	limited peak service via The Narrows & Upper Bay calling at Wall Street, Battery Park City Ferry Terminal, & Paulus Hook Ferry Terminal
-
West Midtown Ferry Terminal[49]

Upstream Hudson routes

Ferry approaching Beacon ferry slip

Route	Transfer
Haverstraw–Ossining Ferry peak service	Metro-North Railroad-Hudson Line Bee-Line Bus System
Newburgh–Beacon Ferry peak service	Metro-North Railroad-Hudson Line Dutchess County LOOP

See also

• Circle Line Downtown
• Circle Line Sightseeing
• Ellis Island and Liberty Island ferries
• Governor's Island Ferry (seasonal)
• Liberty Water Taxi
• New York Water Taxi
• SeaStreak
• Staten Island Ferry
• List of ferries across the Hudson River to New York City
• List of ferries across the East River

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Carroll, Timothy J. (October 11, 2009). "20 Years Crossing the Hudson". Jersey City Reporter (Hoboken: Hudson Reporter): pp. 7 & 16. http://hudsonreporter.com/pages/full_story/push?article-20+years+crossing+the+Hudson-NY+Waterway+celebrates+two+decades+of+ferry+service-%20&id=3943767. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
2. ^ Dunlap, David W. (April 7, 2002). "Launching a Flotilla of Ferry Terminals". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/07/realestate/launching-a-flotilla-of-ferry-terminals.html. Retrieved 2011-02-20. 
3. ^ Moses, Clare (November 18, 2009). "New ferry route from Liberty Harbor to Lower Manhattan". The Jersey Journal. http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/11/new_ferry_route_from_liberty_h.html. Retrieved 2011-03-06. 
4. ^ NY Waterway Cruises
5. ^ Maurer, Mark (October 6, 2010). "NY Waterway's Yankee Clipper offers 'Sailgate' cruises to all Yankees post-season home games". The Jersey Journal. http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2010/10/ny_waterways_yankee_clipper_of.html. Retrieved 2010-10-06. 
6. ^ "Nancy Rieger and Armand Pohan". The New York Times. May 20, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/fashion/weddings/23rieger.html. Retrieved 2010-05-29. 
7. ^ "Battery Park City Ferry Terminal". McLaren Engineering Group. http://www.mgmclaren.com/node/156/. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
8. ^ Uhlig, Mark A. (May 5, 1988). "Site in Manhattan is Chosen for New Ferry Terminal". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/08/nyregion/site-in-manhattan-is-chosen-for-a-new-ferry-terminal.html. Retrieved 2010-11-23. 
9. ^ Bagli, Charles V.; Flynn, Kevin (July 22, 2003). "A Fleet and How It Grew; Ferry Operator's Dominance Draws Rivals' Anger". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE4DF173FF931A15754C0A9659C8B63. Retrieved 2011-02-20. 
10. ^ Grynbaum, Micheal M. (February 1, 2011). "Ferries to Ply East River Far More Regularly Soon". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/nyregion/02ferry.html. Retrieved 2011-02-07. 
11. ^ McGeehan, Patrick (October 16, 2011), "Though Others Failed, New East River Ferries Are a Hit", The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/nyregion/east-river-ferry-service-exceeds-expectations.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=pier%2011%20wall%20street&st=cse, retrieved 2011-10-22 
12. ^ Golway, Terry (December 19, 2004). "Transportation; Mutiny on the Hudson". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D91430F93AA25751C1A9629C8B63. Retrieved 2009-08-09. 
13. ^ McGeehan, Patrick (February 15, 2005). "Port Authority Picks Lawyer To Run Ferries on Hudson". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E7DB123AF936A25751C0A9639C8B63. Retrieved 2010-05-29. 
14. ^ http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/08/video_ny_waterway_ferry_boat_c.html
15. ^ Rife, Judy (October 12, 2005). "Newburgh-Beacon Ferry Crew Set to Go". Times Herald-Record (Middletown). http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/10/12/ferry12.htm. Retrieved 2010-05-29. 
16. ^ Applebome, Peter (January 17, 2009). "A Small Town’s Recurring Role as a Rescue Beacon". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/nyregion/18towns.html. Retrieved 2010-05-29. 
17. ^ WMFT routes
18. ^ NY Waterway Peak Manhattan bus map
19. ^ NY Waterway Off-peak Manhattan bus routes
20. ^ WMFT-Edgewater Landing schedule
21. ^ Port Imperial WMFT-Port Imperial schedule
22. ^ Lincoln Harbor schedule WMFT-Lincoln Harbor schedule
23. ^ WMFT-14th Street schedule
24. ^ WMFT-Pavonia-Newport scheule
25. ^ WMFT-Paulus Hook schedule
26. ^ ^{a b} Pier 11-Belford schedule
27. ^ "New State-of-the-Art Ferry Terminal to Open in Battery Park City on Wednesday, March 18" (Press release). Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. March 17, 2009. http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/press_releasesItem.cfm?headLine_id=1132. Retrieved 2010-05-29. 
28. ^ Ohrstrom, Lysandra (June 6, 2008). "Bigger, Better Battery Park Ferry Terminal Finally Arriving". The New York Observer. http://www.observer.com/2008/bigger-better-battery-park-ferry-terminal-finally-coming-0?page=all. Retrieved 2010-05-29. 
29. ^ "Battery Park City Ferry Terminal Project Gallery". Birdair. http://www.birdair.com/projectGallery/battery_park.aspx. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
30. ^ "Battery Park City Ferry Terminal - International Achievement Awards". IFIA Publications. http://www.ifaipublications.com/iaa/articles/203.html. Retrieved 2010-05-18. ^{[dead link]}
31. ^ Dunlap, David W. (March 17, 2009). "Downtown Gets a New Ferry Terminal". The New York Times. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/downtown-gets-a-new-ferry-terminal/. Retrieved 2010-05-29. 
32. ^ WFC routes
33. ^ "Seastreak". Seastreak. http://www.seastreak.com/. Retrieved 2011-06-06. 
34. ^ WFC/Port Imperial schedule
35. ^ BPC-WFC-14th Street schedule
36. ^ BPC/WFC-Hoboken Terminal schedule
37. ^ BPC-WFC/Paulus Hook schedule scheudle
38. ^ BPC/WFC-Liberty Harbor schdule
39. ^ BPC/WFC-Belford schedule
40. ^ Pier 11-Wall Street routes
41. ^ Pier 111 to Weehawken Port Imperial
42. ^ 14th Street Hoboken schedule
43. ^ Paulus Hook schedule
44. ^ Pier 11-Port Liberte schedule
45. ^ Clark, Roger (June 1, 2011). "East River Ferry Service To Make A Splash". NY1. http://www.ny1.com/content/140129/east-river-ferry-service-to-make-a-splash. Retrieved June 2, 2011. 
46. ^ "East River Ferry". NY Waterway. http://www.nywaterway.com/ERF-LandingPage.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-06. 
47. ^ http://www.nywaterway.com/UserFiles/Files/ERF_BusRouteMap.pdf
48. ^ Belford Harbor routes
49. ^ WMFT-Belford schedule

External links

• Official site