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Vallone continues to
push for Queens ferries
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Councilman Paul
Vallone continues to
push for ferry and
waterfront development in
northeast Queens.
Vallone chaired an
executive budget hearing
on economic development
on Monday, where the New
York City Economic
Development Corporation
(NYCEDC) provided the
Council with an overview
of their capital funding
plan and provided updates
on ongoing projects for the
upcoming New York City
fiscal year.
The councilman
questioned EDC President
and CEO James Patchett on
designated investments in
the waterfront, including
public transportation,
preserving and renewing
recreational waterfront
spaces and a renewed
call for ferry services in
northeast Queens and
other transit deserts.
He once again urged the
EDC to establish commuter
ferry service at the World’s
Fair Marina in Flushing,
which had sustained
damages from Superstorm
Sandy. Reconstruction
efforts to the marina
include upgrading the
deteriorated fixed piers,
floating docks and other
components destroyed
during Sandy.
According to Vallone’s
office, once the project
is completed in 2022, the
marina’s new design can
accommodate a potential
ferry landing.
“As we continuously
look for ways to meet the
extraordinary demand
for public transit, our
city should look to ride
the wave of ferry service,
which brings a viable
transportation option
to areas of our city like
northeast Queens that
are difficult to access
and lack subway access
and reliable bus service,”
said Vallone.
EDC is in charge of
constructing new ferry
Councilman Vallone pushed for continued ferry development
in northeast Queens at Monday’s executive budget hearing
on economic development. Photo courtesy of Vallone’s office
landings, renovating
existing landings and
managing the contract
with Hornblower, who
operates the ferries and
provides service on the
city’s behalf.
In January, Mayor
de Blasio announced the
continued expansion of the
through 2021, with plans to
add new stops and routes
in Brooklyn, the Bronx
and Staten Island. Current
routes include Astoria,
East River, Lower East
Side, Rockaway, Soundview
and South Brooklyn.
By 2021, the city will
have a total of eight
operating ferry routes.
EDC plans to launch the
St. George and Coney
Island routes in 2020 and
2021 respectively. The
agency also plans to add
a stop on the Soundview
Route at Ferry Point Park
in 2021.
During Monday’s
hearing, Patchett also
provided updates on some
of the ongoing projects
funded in the recent
fiscal plans. Some of
the projects include the
Downtown Far Rockaway
Housing and Commercial
Redevelopment in Queens,
the Essex Market at Essex
Crossing in Manhattan,
and the Futureworks
Makerspace at the
Brooklyn Army Terminal.
Of the 445 projects
included in EDC’s
Capital Commitment
Plan, 72 are in Queens,
143 are in Brooklyn,
131 are in Manhattan,
48 are in the Bronx, 34
are in Staten Island and
17 are citywide. The
Council questioned
Patchett on EDC’s
rationale for managing
nearly $3 billion in
capital projects for
other agencies.
“It is essential
we adopt a budget
that is transparent
and ref lective of the
priorities of the Council
and our New Yorkers,”
Vallone said. “As Chair
of the City Council’s
Committee on Economic
Development, I expect
that NYCEDC will
be responsive to the
concerns of the Council
and will work closely
with members to ensure
we pass a budget that
fosters continued
economic growth in New
York City.”
Reach reporter Jenna
Bagcal by email at
jbagcal@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
(718) 224–5863 ext. 214.
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