Ferry Service Opens Up New Choice for Commuters to NYC


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Ferry Service Opens Up New Choice for Commuters to NYC

New York City-bound commuters have a new transportation choice that offers an extra, free benefit: beautiful scenery. The Haverstraw-Ossining ferry-to-rail service allows commuters from Rockland County to begin and end their weekday trip with a refreshing ride on the Hudson River.

"The ferry and train combination offers quite a scenic trip for commuters headed to New York City," said Laura McCabe, Manager, Marketing Programs, MTA Metro-North Railroad. "If you have to commute to work in the first place, why not make it truly enjoyable? The new ferry/rail connection really improves commuters' quality of life."

The ferry connects commuters during peak morning and evening commute hours with Metro-North's Hudson Line at Ossining Station, where express trains take them to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. According to Metro-North, this water-and-land trip to the heart of Midtown takes about an hour and 20 minutes.

The Haverstraw-Ossining ferry project is funded by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) through a two year, $2 million demonstration grant aimed at relieving traffic congestion, improving air quality, enhancing personal mobility, stimulating economic development, and revitalizing historic Hudson River waterfront communities. The ferryboat is a 150-passenger vessel with enclosed seating and heating, operated for Metro-North by NY Waterway�.

NYSDOT Commissioner Joseph H. Boardman, pointing to the smooth operation of the ferry/train connection and the encouraging early ridership figures, noted that, "NYSDOT is very pleased to have worked with Metro-North Railroad and our municipal and private sector partners in developing this very promising project. We are already averaging approximately 160 daily passengers, and over the next year or two we expect to attract double that, establishing ferry travel as another appealing, convenient, affordable travel option for west of Hudson travelers heading to New York City or traveling within the lower Hudson Valley."

"Commuting on the ferry and train is seamless," said McCabe. "It's also a great way to make the most of the Hudson River."

According to Metro-North, the ferry/rail combination lets commuters "enjoy fast, stress-free, reliable transportation and avoid traffic, tunnels, bridges, tolls and parking hassles." Commuters can also have high confidence in the service's dependability. Both Metro-North and NY Waterway� pride themselves on dependable service.

Ferries depart each weekday from the dock at the foot of Dr. Girling Drive in Haverstraw at 5:05am, 6:19am, 7:17am, and 8:41am, arriving in Ossining about 25 minutes later. Express trains to New York City leave Ossining seven to 10 minutes after the ferry docks. In the evening, express trains depart New York's Grand Central Terminal at 4:31pm, 5:36pm, 6:50pm, and 7:54pm, retracing the route back to Haverstraw. (These times are current through March 30, 2001; a new schedule will take effect April 2, 2001.)

Commuters can choose from a variety of fare options. Parking at a new, secure 250-space facility costs $3 a day (or $30 for a discounted monthly pass, available at the Haverstraw dock). One-way fares are $3 for the ferry ($2.75 for seniors) and $7.50 for the rail ($3.75 for seniors and the disabled). A ten-trip ferry ticket costs $27. A weekly rail ticket goes for $51. Riders can also buy a monthly ferry-and-rail-in-one ticket (called the UniTicket) for $193. UniTickets can be purchased at Grand Central Terminal, Ossining Station, or any other Metro-North ticket office, or through "Mail&Ride;," Metro-North's ticket-by-mail program.

A guaranteed ride home service was launched in October for Metro-North UniTicket customers using the ferry and train. The service provides a taxi ride from Tarrytown Station to the commuter's home or car when the ferry is not scheduled. Restrictions apply, so commuters should contact Metro-North for more information.

For more details about the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry, click on Metro-North Railroad's Web site at http://www.mnr.org/mnr/html/raillink/ferry_service.htm.

Or, call NY Waterway� (800-53-FERRY), Metro-North (800-METRO-INFO), or MetroPool (203-324-6700).