The first citywide ferry has arrived in New York Harbor, and we are getting a sneak peak at the new boat. NY1's Shannan Ferry has more from Jersey City, New Jersey.
The city's ship has come in. Or more precisely its ferry, the first in what will be a new fleet of 20 boats carrying commuters from the Bronx to the Rockaways.
"At one time this was just an idea, and now there's a real live boat in the harbor and people and excited to see it in action," says James Patchett, President and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
On Wednesday, NY1 got an early look at the first boat at its temporary home in Jersey City after a 2,000-mile trip from an Alabama shipyard.
The interiors are not finished yet, but the ferry and the others in the fleet, will have a concession stand and charging ports. An app will allow riders to track schedules and buy tickets.
"Getting around NY is challenging!" says Cameron Clarke, Senior Vice President of Hornblower New York. "So making sure that we can provide people with comfort, and the things that they're looking for is really what we're focused on right now."
Service linking the Rockaways, Astoria and south Brooklyn to existing East River ferry docks begins this summer. Service to and from the Bronx and the Lower East Side begins next year, fulfilling Mayor de Blasio's goal of citywide service that will cost riders the same as a bus or subway ride.
"It's going to be a staggered launch," Patchett says, "We expect the Rockaways to launch on the earlier end because those people have been waiting for a very long time."
This vessel does not have a name just yet, but the city says it is getting help from some second grade students to pick one out.
The ferry operator, Hornblower New York, says it is asking students to propose boat names to get them interested in urban planning and transportation. One name that is already under consideration — Lunchbox.
"When you open up your lunchbox, it's got all these different things and these boats are going to be connecting communities with all different people, so we thought lunchbox was fun," Patchett says.
This vessel will remain in Jersey City for a few weeks as the homeport is prepared in Brooklyn. Three more boats are set to leave the shipyard later this week.