www.BXTimes.com BRONX WEEKLY June 2, 2019 6
TN ferry service expansion meeting set for June 18th
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
The borough’s exciting
new transit option will see expanded
service by 2021 if a city
plan continues on its course.
The public is invited to a
‘scoping meeting’ concerning a
proposal to expand NYC Ferry
service on the Soundview route
beyond Clason Point to a new
landing at Throggs Neck in
Ferry Point Park.
The meeting will be held
at Villa Barone Manor at 737
Throgs Neck Expressway on
Tuesday, June 18 at 6 p.m. and
is one of several taking place
around the city as expansion of
the city’s ferry system marches
forward.
The meeting is intended
to provide the public with the
opportunity to comment on a
draft proposal for new ferry
service, and these comments
will be used to develop a required
Environmental Impact
Statement, according to the
meeting notice for citywide
ferry service expansion.
One of the ferry expansion’s
biggest cheerleaders, Councilman
Mark Gjonaj, has been advocating
for more service the
past two years.
Orchard Beach
Opens For
Summertime
FUN
After the success of the Soundview ferry, seen here on its maiden voyage in August 2018, NYC Ferry’s proposed expansion plans includes a stop
Throggs Neck/Ferry Point Park and they are now in the public comment phase. Schneps Media / Patrick Rocchio
“With continued pressure,
the ferry is coming to Ferry
Point Park,” said Gjonaj, adding
in jest that he has a park
with the right name already,
and now all that is needed is
Bronxites above enjoyed their day in the
sun as this year’s beach season opened.
NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver
and Bronx Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez
Rosa co-hosted the Orchard Beach
Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, May
22 at Orchard Beach Promenade.
(top left) (l-r) Nothing like a day at the
beach for Elishah Rivera, Denise Heerrera
and Jacqueline Perez.
(top middle) NYC Parks Commissioner Silver
joined some early summertime fun.
(top right) Bronx Parks Commissioner Rodriguez
Rosa welcomed everyone to the Bronx
Riviera’s long awaited summer opening
(right) (l-r) Lisa Sorin, Bronx Chamber of
Commerce president; Matt Cruz, Community
Board 10 district manager; NYC Parks
Commissioner Silver; Marisol Halpern,
representing Borough President Ruben
Diaz, Jr.; Marjorie Velázquez, CB 10 Parks
chairwoman; Terence L. Franklin and Pelham
Bay Park Administrator Marianne
Anderson. Photo by Silvio Pacifi co
the ferry.
The communities near
where the ferry would site, with
construction of a new landing,
is currently “a transportation
desert,” said the councilman.
“That area of the Bronx
needs ferry service; we cannot
have a tale of two cities,” said
Gjonaj.
Gjonaj added: “They certainly
have not been enjoying
the transportation options
that the rest of the city enjoys
and this ferry service will go a
long way to providing options
to those who don’t have an option.”
/www.BXTimes.com