Travelers Float Merrily Down The Hudson

<B>Travelers Float Merrily Down The Hudson</B>

By Frank Rosci

Business travelers in New York in need of fast, point-to-point transportation can forego the more conventional methods of getting around town and opt instead to float to that next meeting or appointment aboard an inexpensive water taxi or ferry.

"As four of New York City's five boroughs are separated by water, our ferry and water taxi services provide the business traveler with important transportation options," said Keith Yazmir, director of communications at NYC & Co. of the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau. "In addition to serving key business destinations, the ferries aren't affected by the flow of street traffic."

In recent years there's been a renaissance of ferry and water taxi operations in the New York area, with more planned. The city's ferries and water taxis currently stop at a number of places around town, including the World Financial Center and the Wall Street area. There also is ferry service to various other piers and ports in the New York metropolitan area, including one with access to LaGuardia Airport. The systems are viewed by the public and private sectors as key links in lessening, and one day perhaps eliminating, the region's most serious mass transit problems.

Among companies providing the popular service is NY Waterway of Weehawken, N.J., the largest private ferry operator in the nation. The company operates 20 vessels, more than 10 ferry routes and transports more than 7 million passengers into Manhattan yearly.

"It's an attractive, comfortable, reliable and safe way to reach points along the East and Hudson rivers and Lower Manhattan," said Lisa Herrmann, marketing manager. The company also operates the Delta Water Shuttle, a ferry service to and from Manhattan and the Marine Air terminal serving LaGuardia, she added. "This way of getting to the airport saves passengers an average of 15 to 30 minutes, and at $15, it's much less than a taxi."

NY Waterway's ferry stops include the East 34th Street and East 62nd Street terminals, the Queens terminal at Hunters Point, Pier 11 Wall Street, the World Financial Center terminal, Chelsea Piers, the West 38th Street terminal and eight stops across the Hudson River in New Jersey, including stops in Jersey City and the Hoboken Train Station. Ferries operate from early morning to late at night, as well as on weekends at many locations. Crossings range from five to eight minutes, Herrmann said.

NY Waterway also operates its own fleet of more than 70 distinctive red, white and blue buses, added Herrmann. The free buses follow routes along convenient locations all over Manhattan. The company and The Alliance for Downtown New York also operate a free downtown bus loop that provides service to ferry passengers, downtown residents and visitors.

Two other popular ferry services to Manhattan include Seastreak and New York Fast Ferry. Seastreak, based in Atlantic Highlands, N.J., "offers up to 11 departures daily, beginning at 5:45 a.m., with no traffic jams and roomy, executive-style seating," said a company spokeswoman. The company's boats make stops at Pier 11 Wall Street, East 34th Street and the Brooklyn Army Terminal. Weekday fares range from $9 one way/$17 roundtrip to $15 one way/$28 roundtrip. (Off peak fares are $12 one way to $20 roundtrip.)

Meanwhile, New York Fast Ferry, based in Highlands, N.J., operates two, 270-seat ferries to Manhattan, said general manager Jack Davis. Stops include Pier 11 Wall Street and the East 34th Street pier. Peak weekday fares are $13 one way and $25 roundtrip at Pier 11, and $14 one way and $27 roundtrip at East 34th Street. One-way, off-peak fares are $12 and $20, respectively. Service is available beginning at 6:10 a.m. from Highlands, 6:55 a.m. at Pier 11 and 7:10 a.m. at East 34th Street.

Up to 1,100 people a day use the service, Davis said, which takes 40 minutes compared with at least 90 minutes by car and train.