Astoria Ferry Service, One Year On
CDoyle It’s been a year since Astoria got its own ferry service, and it’s safe to say it remains highly popular. (If you missed this video of the first day of ferry service, it’s worth watching! A ferry ride offers a quick, picturesque and relaxing commute into other boroughs for the same price as a subway ride. Or if you just like to ride the ferry on a hot day, stroll down to Hallets Cove and step on board for some refreshing river air!
Now Astoria ferry riders can connect to the Bronx by taking NYC Ferry to East 34th St in Manhattan and then transferring to the new Soundview ferry route. To make subway connections easier, NYC’s Economic Development Corporation (which has overseen the ferry’s launch and expansion) and the MTA have worked to expanded Bronx bus service to better coordinate with the ferry schedule.
And riders on our own Astoria line will find that bus service along the midtown shuttle route has been increased to cope with any increase in volume. Shuttle service remains on a first-come-first-served basis. Check here for the most up-to-date Astoria ferry and midtown bus schedules.
As new ferry routes continue to open, it’s worth considering how ferry service might affect the housing market, especially along the New York waterfront. With commuting times cut in half, many neighborhoods may become more attractive when a ferry dock becomes one of the local amenities.
Photo by Clare Doyle
Clare Doyle
Clare Doyle is a graduate of the M.A. program in Museum Studies at the University of Leicester, UK. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies as well as a B.A. in Archaeology and History from University Dublin, Ireland. She has worked for 30 years in library reference publishing in New York. Clare is the Vice President of Green Shores NYC, a non-profit group that advocates for a cleaner, greener and more connected waterfront in Astoria and Long Island City