Since its inception in May, the Yonkers to Wall Street water taxi has exceeded ridership expectations, according to the president of the company that operates it.
“The public reaction has been better than what was initially expected,” said Tom Fox, president of New York Water Taxi (NYWT). “In June, we had 110 paid passengers per day riding.”
NYWT began the service in May between Yonkers Pier at 1 Van Der Donck St. and the World Financial Center and to Pier 11 at Wall Street in lower Manhattan on Tuesday.
“We kept the same number of riders after the (free ride) promotion ended, and it”™s even gone up since then,” said Fox.
Fox said the renaissance of downtown Yonkers and the increased congestion faced by Westchester commuters driving into Manhattan have helped the water taxi”™s initial success.
Fox said there are plans to have a connection to Haverstraw in Rockland County in August.
“We want to become an asset to the Hudson River communities,” he said.
One interesting note about the water taxi ridership so far is that there are slightly more passengers coming back from Manhattan to Yonkers in the evening than those who go the opposite route in the morning, Fox said.
“We have about 30 to 40 more people per month coming back than going in,” he said. “I think it”™s people getting out of work who see it”™s a nice day and think, ”˜Maybe I”™ll take the water taxi back.”™”
Fox said there are plans to make some minor adjustments in the schedule during the upcoming months.
This will primarily include adding more service runs during peak commuting hours.
He believes that people who ride the water taxi are telling their colleagues about it, which is adding to the increase in riders.
“Word-of-mouth is our best advertising,” he said.
For schedules and fares, visit HYPERLINK “http://www.nywatertaxi.com” \t “_blank” www.nywatertaxi.com.
