June 12, 2014

Honorable Bill de Blasio

Mayor
City of New York
City Hall
New York, NY 10007

RE: Permanent Rockaway Ferry Service

Dear Mayor de Blasio:

We the undersigned are writing to reiterate our support for the inclusion of funding in the budget for
permanent ferry service from Rockaway Beach to Manhattan, with stops in Brooklyn. This method of
transportation is not only vital for commuters who live on the Rockaway Peninsula, but ferry service is
absolutely essential to promoting tourism and economic development for the communities within the
Rockaways.

Affordable: The Rockaway peninsula historically has been challenged by transportation options. This is the
only region within the City of New York that requires non-residents to pay a toll to visit neighborhoods
within the same borough. Ferry service makes it possible for visitors and Queens residents alike, to enjoy
the Peninsula without having to pay $7.50.

Transportation: A major issue in the Borough of Queens continues to be transportation. Presently
Manhattan has six active commuter ferry terminals, Brooklyn has seven terminals and Staten Island has
one, which is a 24-hour service that has been free to commuters and fully subsidized since 1997. The
residents and business owners on the Peninsula continue to be engaged in the post-hurricane rebuilding and
recovery process. Ferry transportation has played a major role in this recovery, and losing this service
would be devastating to this community, which stills finds itself in a time of need. When this service is
made permanent, and word is spread throughout the Peninsula, ridership will increase exponentially.

Bus and train options are also limited to and from the Rockaway Peninsula. There is no direct train service
to much of the Rockaways forcing many residents and visitors to navigate multiple trains and a shuttle
service as part of their commute. In addition, the Rockaway Peninsula only has two express buses that bring
commuters to Manhattan. These express buses operate strictly on weekdays between 5:47am and 8:02am,
with Rockaway-bound express buses operating between 3:30pm and 7:00pm. Currently, the Rockaway
ferry has outbound service that runs from 5:40am to 9:25am, with return service running from 4:00pm until
8:45pm, offering commuters direct service that runs beyond express train and bus service to the Peninsula.

Economic Development: An upwardly mobile economy is desperately needed on the Rockaway Peninsula.
The assurance that there is predictable and reliable transportation to the region offers incentive to those
contemplating an investment in this community. Permanent and reliable ferry service will provide that
assurance.


Conclusion: For these reasons, we are requesting that $8 million in funding be dedicated for the
continuation of ferry service to and from the Rockaway Peninsula, seven days a week through the next
fiscal year. We ask that the City make the ferry service permanent by baselining funds for the ferry service
in the out-years. We will also work with Far Rockaway stakeholders to ease the difficulties of getting to and
from the ferry, which will further increase ridership.

Though the storm of October 2012 called our attention to the need for ferry transportation to the Rockaway
Peninsula, it is important to recognize that the people of this community have been engaged in the struggle
for this service for decades. The absence of an alternate and more reliable source of transportation has long
presented challenges to commuters and business owners. Current circumstances now put us in a position to
provide this much-needed transportation option, and we strongly encourage you to do what is necessary to
make ferry service between Rockaway, Brooklyn and Manhattan permanent.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Hon. Melinda Katz
President
Borough of Queens


Hon. Eric Adams
President
Borough of Brooklyn


Hon. Gale Brewer
President
Borough of Manhattan


Hon. Gregory Meeks Hon. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. Hon. James Sanders Jr.
Member New York State Senate New York State Senate
United States Congress 15
th
District 10
th
District



Hon. Diane J. Savino Hon. Philip Goldfeder Hon. Donovan Richards
New York State Senate New York State Assembly New York City Council
23
rd
District 23
rd
District 31
st
District


Hon. Eric Ulrich Hon. Carlos Menchaca
New York City Council New York City Council
32
nd
District 38
th
District