Commute to be ferry easy
The New York Daily News
By Elizabeth O'Brien

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Next month, New York Water Taxi will begin commuter ferry service from Fulton Ferry Landing in Brooklyn to three points in lower Manhattan.

The private company started planning the service before Sept. 11, officials said, but the terror attacks prompted them to pick up the pace.

"It was apparent after 9/11 that Manhattan really is an island," said Douglas Durst, chairman of New York Water Taxi. "There was no way to get around, so we felt we needed [boat service] right away."

On Sept. 24, three high-speed catamarans will begin ferrying commuters from Fulton Ferry Landing to Pier 11 at Wall St., Pier A at Battery Park and North Cove at Battery Park City.

The boats, painted bright yellow with the black-and-white checkerboard trim once used on city cabs, will charge $3 one way or $2 one way with the purchase of a $20 10-trip book.

In addition to their commuter runs, New York Water Taxi boats will make tourist stops at locations on the West Side for $4 to $8 per trip.

The boats can accommodate up to 75 people. On weekdays, they will make commuter trips every 15 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The trip from Fulton Ferry Landing to Wall St. will take about three minutes, said Tom Fox, president of New York Water Taxi.

Transportation Alternatives, a watchdog group, hailed the new service as an environmentally sound commuting option.

"We love ferries," said John Kaehny, the organization's executive director. "They're great for New York City."

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