Developers Want More Ferry Service For UES, Astoria: Report

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Developers are lobbying the city to increase ferry service on the Upper East Side, according to reports.

The Durst Organization's proposal would extend the existing Astorai ferry line to the East 90th Street ferry landing, THE CITY first reported. A spokesman for the organization told the publication "the trip would take less than five minutes."

Durst is developing a seven-building apartment complex called Hallet's Point that is located about 10 minutes away from the Astoria ferry terminal, THE CITY reported. The development just recently opened the first building at the site of the new development, according to the report.

Ferry service launched on the Upper East Side in August 2018 with the creation of the system's Soundview route. The four-stop route takes about 45 minutes from end to end and stops at Soundview, East 90th Street, East 34th Street and Wall Street/Pier 11. The Astoria route also stops at Wall Street and East 34th Street but then crosses the East River to stop at Long Island City, Roosevelt Island and Astoria.

Durst plans to pitch its ferry proposal to the city Economic Development Corporation — the agency tasked with running the ferry sytstem — and Community Board 8 on the Upper East Side. The board's transportation committee chair told THE CITY that the plan has merit, but it may exacerbate overcrowding at the East 90th Street ferry landing.

Read the full THE CITY article here.