New York Water Taxi (NYWT) believes the renaissance of downtown Yonkers, combined with the increased congestion faced by Westchester commuters driving into Manhattan, will make its newest venture a success.
NYWT will begin direct commuter service between Yonkers at Yonkers Pier at 1 Van Der Donck St. and the World Financial Center and Pier 11 at Wall Street in lower Manhattan on Tuesday.
The company was selected by the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. and the city of Yonkers to run the service after responding to a Request For Proposal issued by the Port Authority.
“The time is right,” said Tom Fox, president of NYWT. “With the redevelopment of the downtown waterfront it seems like there”™s a critical mass beginning to form.”
Initially, NYWT will run two of its vessels between Yonkers and lower Manhattan.
Commuter service will operate from Yonkers four times each Monday through Friday between 5:50 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and four times between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. from Pier 11. The one-seat ride to will take 45 minutes to the World Financial Center and 57 minutes to Pier 11 at Wall Street. Fares are $12 one way, $110 for a 10-trip book, and $400 for a 40-trip book. The boats travel at up to 28 mph and can accommodate 149 passengers on two decks.
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Direct trip
Fox said the water taxi”™s customers will likely be drawn from those commuters who currently drive into Manhattan. “Our primary audience is the driver,” Fox said. “We”™re looking to be an alternative mass transit rather than replace the existing mass transit.”
Another benefit to the water taxi, according to Fox, is that commuters can get a direct trip to the financial district, rather than taking the Metro-North train to Grand Central Station and transferring to a subway.
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“(The water taxi) is going be successful because it gives a comfortable one-seat ride,” he said. “We have state-of-the-art vessels, the cabin is isolated, there”™s a café/bar, and closed-captioned TV on 42 televisions,” he said.
If the service becomes successful, Fox said, plans are to have a connection to Haverstraw in Rockland County in the fall. “We want to become an asset to the Hudson River communities,” he said. “We”™re hoping there will be a growth of the service.”
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Free rides
To kick off the service, New York Water Taxi is offering passengers a free ride during the month of May, and the Yonkers Parking Authority will offer a 40 percent discount at the Buena Vista Parking Garage in Main Street in Yonkers.
To qualify for a free ride, passengers must register at www.nywatertaxi.com. Free rides will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, Fox said.
While the water taxi”™s primary service will be commuter transit, Fox also hopes to use the vessels in a recreational capacity. “We”™re trying to see if we can develop tours and leisure and travel programs,” he said.
Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone touted the water taxi service as another step in the city”™s revitalization. “This service will not only provide a new option to hundreds of daily commuters in Yonkers, it will attract hundreds more from around the region to our revitalized and thriving Hudson River waterfront, further boosting our city”™s economic resurgence,” he said.
For schedules and fare prices, visit www.nywatertaxi.com.
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