After several failed attempts to bring commuter ferries to the Rockaway peninsula, the city floated the idea again Tuesday with a new twist: a promise of significant public subsidies.
"The question was never 'Should we do it?', but 'How can we do this?'" Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference on the Rockaways boardwalk announcing that the city is seeking ferry proposals from private operators.
It takes a lot of money to get a boat and it takes a while to build an audience," Bloomberg said. "One of the things we can do is to give people some support until it gets going."
The willingness to foot part of the bill for a Rockaways ferry marks a reversal of the city's position from just two years ago, when the Department of Transportation said of such a service: "Our policy is not to be involved in subsidies."
Past efforts to connect the remote Rockaways to Manhattan by boat have been sunk by high costs. A pilot weekend ferry in 2003 failed because of its price -- $26 one way. Twice since then, the DOT has sought Rockaways ferry proposals, but got no takers.
This time, city officials said, they would like to keep the fare to $4 each way, the same as express bus service into Manhattan.
"I think you're going to see something happen because the city has said this time they're willing to provide some assistance," said Jim DeSimone, chief of ferry operations for the Department of Transportation.
Bloomberg said the amount of the city subsidy won't be determined until companies submit proposals to the Economic Development Corp. City Councilman Joseph Addabbo estimated it would cost the city at least $1 million a year to make the ferry service attractive for a private operator to run.
"You've got a population growth here like no other place in the city and it can support a ferry, if the deal is structured correctly," Addabbo said.
Rep. Anthony Weiner, in a statement, said the city had committed $3 million to $6 million for a three-year pilot program. In 2004, Weiner secured $15 million in federal transportation funds, which has not yet been spent, to buy three boats for a Rockaways ferry service.
City transportation officials envision a ferry between Riis Landing and Pier 11 in lower Manhattan, although private operators may propose other stops in Manhattan or Brooklyn to increase ridership.
With the average commute from the Rockaways to Manhattan clocking in at between 90 minutes and two hours each way, residents said they hope this ferry plan sticks. The city estimates a ferry would take about 45 minutes to an hour each way.
"Rockaway is a hidden jewel in New York City and we need to get better transportation here," said Mary Dever Kelly of the Rockaway Park Home and Residents Association. "We've been the stepchild of the city when it comes to transportation for way too long."
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