An NYC Ferry travels down the East River near Roosevelt Island, April, 24, 2019. Photo: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

Sign up for THE CITY Scoop, our daily newsletter where we send you stories like this first thing in the morning.

Safety concerns over big boats and smaller crafts sharing a dock facility appear destined to sink NYC Ferrys plans to expand to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal this year.

Revised documents from the citys Economic Development Corp. indicate that the long-awaited service from Staten Island to Manhattans West Side will instead likely depart from a waterfront esplanade behind the Richmond County Ballpark, on the other side of the Empire Outlets Mall.

The issue, according to EDCs recently released environmental impact statement: Officials realized operating relatively small crafts next to giant ones could present a major hazard.

The city Department of Transportation identified potential navigational safety issues related to vessels movements and lack of sight lines in docking the 86-foot NYC Ferries near the Staten Island Ferrys 310-foot behemoths.

The dock move would put the new service farther away from a direct connection with Staten Island Railway and bus service to the main St. George terminal.

The new outdoor location would require a walk the length of four football fields from the transit hub to the NYC Ferry, which is expected to stop at Vesey Street and Pier 79 in Manhattan.

Councilmember Debi Rose (D-Staten Island) Photo: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

While Im sorry that our ferry operations cannot all be under one roof, I understand the safety concerns, and I am pleased that it will be a sheltered location nearly adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, Councilmember Debi Rose (D-Staten Island) told THE CITY in a statement.

Commuter Patricia Scalise put it this way: In Staten Island, you take what you can get. Itll be cold, but Ill take it.

Meanwhile, the EDC document also detailed changes along three routes connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan:

A new ferry stop is planned at the foot of 42nd Street in Sunset Park near Industry City, which has become a shopping and dining destination. The stop will be one terminus in an updated South Brooklyn route that hits Red Hook, Atlantic Avenue and Wall Street.

Bay Ridge, meanwhile, is getting a new direct route to Wall Street. The Brooklyn terminus of that line will be Coney Island.

The existing Rockaway Line will go to the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park and then onto Wall Street.

A map of the new NYC Ferry routes. Photo: NYC Economic Development Corp.

City Council member Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn) told THE CITY Wednesday that the changes in store will be a boon for commuters to Manhattan.

Weve always been pushing for the ferry from Bay Ridge to Wall Street because getting from Bay Ridge to Wall Street in 15 minutes is a game changer, said Brannan. I mean theres just no other way unless its 3 a.m. in the morning and youre doing 100 miles on the BQE.

The lawmaker conceded, however, that hes disappointed to see his neighborhood cut off from other parts of Brooklyn.

They never told us that If we give you the express ferry, were going to take away the local, said Brannan. And thats really frustrating because peoples work patterns have changed. Not everyone works in Lower Manhattan anymore. People work further into Brooklyn.

Councilmember Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn) Photo: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

We want to make connections between neighborhoods in Brooklyn and we do that wherever possible, but were also a commuter focused service so we are excited about providing express service for Bay Ridge riders to Lower Manhattan, which they dont currently have on the South Brooklyn route, said Chris Singleton, an EDC spokesperson.

Want to republish this story? See ourrepublication guidelines.

You just finished reading another story from THE CITY.

We need your help to make THE CITY all it can be.

Please consider joining us as a member today.

DONATE TODAY!

See the rest here:

NYC Ferry's a No-Go at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal - THE CITY