NYCEDC and State Senator Squadron Announce East River Ferry Shuttle Service to Run Between Greenpoint and North Williamsburg
Free shuttle bus service begins tomorrow, operating during morning and evening peak hours
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and State Senator Daniel Squadron recently announced a temporary shuttle bus service commenced operation on February 18, 2014, and will be transporting riders between the India St. / Greenpoint and the N. 6th St. / N. Williamsburg East River Ferry landings during morning and evening rush hours. The free shuttle will facilitate East River Ferry access for riders who use the India St. / Greenpoint landing, which has been out of service since Thursday, February 13. BillyBey, operator of the East River Ferry, will operate a shuttle bus making the following pick-up and drop-off stops:
Southbound Morning Rush Hour Service: India St. / Greenpoint to N. 6th St. / N. Williamsburg
First departure at 6:50 a.m.; additional departures every 20 minutes; final departure at 9:30 a.m.
- Stop 1: India Street ferry landing at the corner of India Street & West Street
- Stop 2: Franklin Street at the B32 bus stop between Noble St & Oak St
- Stop 3: North Williamsburg ferry landing at the foot of North 6th Street
Northbound Evening Rush Hour Service: N. 6th St. / N. Williamsburg to India St. / Greenpoint
First departure at 4:30 p.m.; additional departures every 20 minutes; final departure at 7:20 p.m.
- Stop 1: North Williamsburg ferry landing at the foot of North 6th Street
- Stop 2: Franklin Street & Noble Street at the B32 bus stop
- Stop 3: Franklin Street & Greenpoint Avenue at the B32 bus stop
- Stop 4: Franklin Street & India Street
- Stop 5: India Street ferry landing at the corner of India Street & West Street
The shuttle service will operate for a minimum of two weeks, pending ridership. During off-peak hours, passengers may use the B32 bus, which regularly travels a similar route throughout the day.
"East River Ferry service has proven to be a reliable piece of New York City's transportation infrastructure, and it is imperative that those who typically ride from Greenpoint continue to have travel options while the terminal is temporarily out of service," said NYCEDC President Kyle Kimball. "We thank Senator Squadron for helping to facilitate this shuttle bus service. Passenger safety is our first priority, and we will continue to work with the ferry operator on necessary improvements to ensure New Yorkers can enjoy the East River Ferry for years to come."
"More and more New Yorkers depend on ferries as part of their daily lives," said Senator Squadron, who requested the free shuttle. "In Greenpoint, the East River Ferry provides vital transportation to a community in deep need of it. Critical repairs and safety reviews could strand many commuters as the India Street terminal is kept out of service -- shuttle buses to the nearest ferry stop will go a long way for many commuters. I'm grateful to Kyle Kimball, EDC and BillyBey for moving quickly and being so responsive. The message is clear: we are committed to the vital link that expanded ferry service provides, even when problems strike."
"The East River Ferry is an important transportation option for Greenpoint, but the community needs to have complete assurance that their trip will be a safe one," said Council Member Stephen Levin. "I appreciate that EDC has pledged to fully investigate what caused last week's ramp collapse and await the release of the results. I am glad that in the meantime, they will offer a free shuttle bus until the ferry is back up and running."
"As we continue to work with engineers, along with the property owner of the India Street pier and the EDC, to determine the cause of the problem last week, we hope that this shuttle will provide our Greenpoint passengers with a viable alternate means to access our East River Ferry service," said Paul Goodman, CEO of BillyBey Ferry Company.
For more information or detailed East River Ferry schedules, please visit http://www.eastriverferry.com.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is the City's primary vehicle for promoting economic growth in each of the five boroughs. NYCEDC's mission is to stimulate growth through expansion and redevelopment programs that encourage investment, generate prosperity and strengthen the City's competitive position. NYCEDC serves as an advocate to the business community by building relationships with companies that allow them to take advantage of New York City's many opportunities.