Community News
BY ANGELA MATUA
AMATUA@QNS.COM
Hallets Cove in Astoria sits
just 1,515 feet from midtown
Manhattan, but for many residents
living near the waterfront,
their commutes to work
are anything but short.
That changed on Aug. 29 with the introduction
of NYC Ferry’s Astoria route,
which makes stops in Long Island City,
Roosevelt Island, 34th Street and Wall
Street. The expansion of ferry service,
announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio in
2015, aims to make Manhattan more
accessible to those who felt it was out
of reach.
Ferry service was recently introduced
in waterfront neighborhoods such as
Red Hook in Brooklyn and the Rockaways.
A recent survey conducted by the
Economic Development Corporation
found that 93 percent of New Yorkers
rated the service a 7 or higher out of
ten. So far, the expanded ferry service
has accommodated approximately 1.5
million riders.
Shavita Snipe, an Astoria resident
for 19 years who works near Wall
Street, was among the first passengers
on the Astoria ferry for the 6:30
a.m. launch. She previously took the
R or N train to work but began utilizing
the Hunters Point ferry in Long
Island City.
Now, instead of driving to Long Island
City and looking for parking, Snipe can
walk across the street to the ferry.
22 SEPTEMBER 2017 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
“There is no hustle and bustle, no
hot train station; just a breeze, a beautiful
view of the water,” she said. “It’s awesome.
I’m super excited that it’s across
the street from my house.”
Costing the same price as a one-way
MetroCard, the trip from Astoria to Wall
Street is approximately 47 minutes.
Councilman Costa Constantinides, who
also rode the 6:30 a.m. ferry, said the
launch of the service is “exhilarating.”
“This is something the community
has been waiting for for 80 years — first
ferry stop in Astoria in that time, it’s
Astoria residents
look forward to
shorter commute
as ferry service
launches
Photos by Angela Matua/QNS
The Astoria ferry route launchedon Aug. 29.
