Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Kim Serafin (212) 788-2958
The Mayor was joined by Arthur Imperatore Jr., President, New York Waterway; Arthur Imperatore, Sr., Founder, New York Waterway; Richard Schwartz, Senior Advisor to the Mayor; Seth Kaye, Director of the Mayor's Office of Transportation; Christopher Lynn, Department of Transportation Commissioner, and Thomas J. Ryan, Regional Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration.
The Mayor unveiled the new ferry service last week along with New York Waterway and key members of his administration.
"I am thrilled to be one of the first people to be taking the new privately-operated passenger ferry service on the East River linking Yankee Stadium with Manhattan," said Mayor Giuliani. "This new service will bring passengers from Manhattan to a landing site that's just a five-minute walk from the Yankee Stadium gate."
"These high-speed ferries will provide a comfortable, relaxing trip to the ball park -- and back again -- on a boat that holds almost 400 people," said the Mayor. "And this new service, which will pass by the United Nations and other sights, will be an attraction in its own right."
The Mayor concluded, "Of course, this year, as a Yankee fan, I'm hoping for October ferry service to the Stadium. Hopefully, very late into October. "
New York Waterway President Arthur E. Imperatore, Jr. said he would commit a 400-passenger boat to the service, with stops at the South Street Seaport's Pier 17, East 34th Street and East 90th Street, before arriving at Yankee Stadium. Service, at $10 round trip, will be available starting today and then for all remaining weeknight games this season.
The New York City Department of Transportation recently developed a ferry landing on the Harlem River at Yankee Stadium, and with the Parks Department, rehabilitated the pier at 90th Street and the East River. At Yankee Stadium, a short walkway will take ferry commuters to the pedestrian overpass over the MetroNorth tracks and then into the Stadium. The Mayor thanked Governor Pataki and New York State officials, in particular Empire State Development Corporation Chairman Charles Gargano, for facilitating the necessary approvals for the Yankee Stadium landing site.
Under an agreement with the City, New York Waterway has paid for a landing slot license right to pick up and discharge passengers at the new facilities at Yankee Stadium and East 90th Street, and at the existing facilities at the South Street Seaport and East 34th Street.
Mayor Giuliani emphasized that the extensive police protection which has made the neighborhood around Yankee Stadium one of the safest in the City would be extended to the new ferry landing site.
"We are committed to providing safe, efficient, environmentally friendly commuter service throughout the New York area and feel this joint effort with the City and the Yankees is a winning combination for everyone, especially the fans," said Imperatore, Jr.. "I want to thank Mayor Giuliani for providing this opportunity."
New York Harbor has the largest and fastest growing system of non-subsidized privately operated ferries in North America. In 1986, there were no privately operated ferries in New York. Today three companies transport more than 24,000 passengers each weekday on eleven different routes. Privately operated ferries connect Manhattan with locations in New Jersey, and with Bay Ridge, Hunters Point, Mariners Harbor, and LaGuardia Airport in New York. New routes, separate and apart from this initiative, are under development from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Nyack and Yonkers.