More than just a great place for New Yorkers to enjoy an oversize Negro Modelo in public, the Staten Island Ferry and its 70,000+ daily riders got some good news today from City Council: More service.
A bill that would increase the frequency of ferry trips between Staten Island and Manhattan was passed unanimously by the City Council this afternoon. The legislation requires that weekend evening ferry service after 7 p.m. from Staten Island, and after 7:30 p.m. from Manhattan, run every 30 minutes until 2 a.m. At the moment, ferries run hourly on weekend nights.
Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member James Oddo praised the bill earlier today as a boon for both commuting residents of Staten Island and businesses considering investment along the borough's north shore. "Frankly, there's no reason," Oddo said, "why the North Shore isn't as good or better than Hoboken and Jersey City and wonderful parts of Brooklyn."
The bill also stipulates that ferries will run at least every 30 minutes at all times by May 1st, 2015, which could be just in time for a trip to ride the world's tallest ferris wheel.
