South Amboy ferry service to Manhattan gets green light, service operator named
SOUTH AMBOY – The city's decades-long hope of providing passenger ferry service to New York City is moving closer to reality.
New York Waterway, established in 1986, has been chosen to operate the ferry service to Manhattan, South Amboy has announced.
"We are delighted South Amboy has chosen NY Waterway to provide ferry service," said Chairman, President and CEO Armand Pohan. "With congestion on our roads increasing and commuters looking for safe ways to travel, this is just the right time to increase transportation options. We look forward to working with the mayor and his administration to give riders a safe, fast and convenient commute to Manhattan."
The North Jersey Transportation Authority in September gave the city funding authorization to move forward with the project more than 20 years in the making.
The city will advertise for a contractor to build the ferry terminal in the weeks ahead, according to city officials.
“Since the summer months we have been able to reach the end of the planning process and are moving forward with construction," Mayor Fred Henry said. “Our goal is to work with our operator to establish a temporary service in the upcoming months, while our new permanent facility is built."
“Both residents and commuters from the area have been waiting for the project to move from planning to reality," Business Administrator Glenn Skarzynski said. "With the invaluable help of Congressman Frank Pallone and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin we were able to fully fund this important transportation infrastructure improvement."
The project is being funded by state and federal funds, Skarzynski said.
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The new facility will be anchored by a two-story ferry terminal and will provide 750 parking spaces in support of new ferry riders. In addition, a waterfront promenade is planned to allow residents and visitors access to the city’s bay front.
“It is my intent, as adjacent properties develop further, to bring additional public waterside amenities to the residents of the city," Henry said. "While we welcome new residents who want to enjoy the luxury of waterfront living in South Amboy, we want to make sure that the Raritan Bay is fully accessible to everyone.”
“We fully expect to be able to break ground on this project in early 2022 and we will work with NY Waterway to establish temporary accommodations to begin service from South Amboy while the complex is being built," the mayor said.
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: South Amboy NJ ferry service to Manhattan NY gets green light
