2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse

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2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by Gold_12th on Wed Sep 17 21:49:27 2014 edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d The Staten Island Ferry fleet will be updated as part of a $255.4 million resiliency project developed in response to Hurricane Sandy. Two new storm-resilient boats will be included in the project, along with floodproofing for both the Manhattan and Staten Island ferry terminals and upgrades to landings citywide. "We've always known that the ferries are outdated and we need a replacement," U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said. Officials on Wednesday announced $191.55 million in federal funds for the project. The city will finance $63.85 million. The funds will be used to modernize the ferry fleet and landings after Hurricane Sandy highlighted the need for a resiliency overhaul. The ferries were mostly unscathed during the storm, but there was $30 million in damage at the Whitehall and St. George terminals and piers. The ferries themselves didn't operate for five days. Federal support for the project comes from the third allotment of disaster Federal Transit Administration funding, via the Sandy Relief Bill. Schumer said he and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) had to "lobby pretty hard" for the funds. "There are more needs than money," he added. James DeSimone, the chief operations officer of the Staten Island Ferry, said the city Department of Transportation began a preliminary design investigation into new boats a couple of years ago. The federal money will allow the city to move forward with design and, eventually, construction. BETTER EQUIPPED The new vessels will be better equipped for rougher conditions and more locations, with four cycloidal drives each and side doors. This will allow the ferries to operate in more extreme weather and dock at more terminals around the city. "The propulsion of the vessel will be very maneuverable," DeSimone said. The dock flexibility will also help the ferries better respond to emergencies, Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said. And the new boats will have a higher capacity than some older vessels, with room for 4,500 passengers. "They're going to have great resiliency should we ever encounter something like Hurricane Sandy again," Ms. Trottenberg said. What the boats will look like, though, is unclear. "We know they'll be orange," DeSimone said. Together, the boats are estimated to cost $155 million. Roughly $5.625 million will also be used for floodproofing at the Whitehall and St. George terminals, to safeguard against the type of damage sustained during Sandy. Some $30 million in federal funds will be allocated for landing enhancements and facility modifications to accommodate the new ferries in four other citywide locations. Hunters Point and East 34th Street are priority spots right now, but one of the other two locations will likely be in Brooklyn. Two "flex barges" will also be established, for deployment at multiple locations. The project is expected to take several years to complete and the city is just beginning the design phase. Bid specification may not begin for over a year, DeSimone said. The new ferries will replace older boats, such as the 33-year-old Barberi and Newhouse, and the 50-year-old John F. Kennedy. They will be on the normal ferry rotation schedule, not just for storm use. BROAD BENEFITS Officials said the benefits of the new boats and upgrades go beyond post-Sandy resiliency. "The Staten Island Ferry is a key piece of the city's larger transportation network," Ms. Trottenberg said. The ferry is the only non-vehicular way to travel between the borough and Manhattan, with a weekday ridership of 70,000 people. "These upgrades will improve commutes for thousands of Staten Islanders and ensure we have more reliable, more flexible ferry service when emergencies strike -- a key part of our comprehensive resiliency plan," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. The changes also will help the rest of the city, officials said. Though some other ferry operators are eyeing a spot near the planned New York Wheel and Empire Outlets, the Staten Island Ferry upgrades will also help get more visitors to the North Shore when the attractions open, officials said. Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) said in a statement that part of her negotiations for the Wheel and outlets included the commitment of city funds for new ferryboats. A more resilient fleet, she said, was welcome. "The Staten Island Ferry is not only a vital transportation link for my constituents, but it also brings thousands of visitors to Staten Island, a number that will only increase as our North Shore Renaissance takes shape," Ms. Rose said. http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/09/staten_island_ferry_fleet_to_g.html#incart_river
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by r17-6599 on Wed Sep 17 21:51:37 2014, in response to 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by Gold_12th on Wed Sep 17 21:49:27 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d They'd better keep that Kennedy around.
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by Edwards!* on Wed Sep 17 22:44:12 2014, in response to 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by Gold_12th on Wed Sep 17 21:49:27 2014.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d That's all fine and well, but the real issue is continued wasted spending to replace them,when a crossbay link would solve the problem for the next hundred years.
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by Gold_12th on Wed Sep 17 23:13:40 2014, in response to Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by Edwards! on Wed Sep 17 22:44:12 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d huh?
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by WillD* on Thu Sep 18 08:25:08 2014, in response to 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by Gold_12th on Wed Sep 17 21:49:27 2014.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d WTF is "storm resilient"? Every ship that's been at sea for more than a year is "storm resilient", or it would have turned itself into an artificial reef. But what ever happened to the fast ferry ideas? So long as the MTA is shelling out big bucks to support the express bus lines shouldn't there be an option to provide similar services without requiring the use of highway infrastructure? Fast ferries aren't going to be cheap, but it could be a good way to extend the ferry's reach beyond St George.
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Thu Sep 18 09:59:56 2014, in response to Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by WillD on Thu Sep 18 08:25:08 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Talking about a sudden unexpected surge within 20 minutes. LOL! They'll suspend service anyway before that.
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by New Flyer #857 on Thu Sep 18 10:09:08 2014, in response to Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by WillD on Thu Sep 18 08:25:08 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Fast ferries could also increase frequency without increasing ferries. I don't know if I'd want something that big cruising down the harbor at 45 MPH though. You'd really have to set up traffic patterns in the harbor beyond the see-and-avoid method, in order to maximize safety.
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by JayZeeBMT on Thu Sep 18 13:22:17 2014, in response to Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by WillD on Thu Sep 18 08:25:08 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Too bad New York Harbor is too crowded, and the demand for Manhattan-SI ferry service so huge. Otherwise, I think it would be great fun to have hydrofoils providing the service...perhaps along a longer (Manhattan to the Rockaways, or to the North Jersey Coast) route in a protected corridor? Boeing had a nice little side business going with their 929-series Jetfoils... Imagine flying (literally) around the harbor on one of those vessels!
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by MainR3664 on Thu Sep 18 14:47:10 2014, in response to Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by Gold_12th on Wed Sep 17 23:13:40 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Build a tunnel from Whitehall Street to St. George. It would cost umpteen billions, but I'd favor it.
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by Gold_12th on Thu Sep 18 14:55:16 2014, in response to Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by MainR3664 on Thu Sep 18 14:47:10 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d never gonna happen :(
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by jace* on Thu Sep 18 16:28:41 2014, in response to Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by WillD on Thu Sep 18 08:25:08 2014.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d A storm resilient ferry is simply a way to justify getting Sandy money to buy new boats. There's a big pile still out there so expect to hear more such pronouncements.
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by Michael549 on Thu Sep 18 16:39:30 2014, in response to Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by WillD on Thu Sep 18 08:25:08 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d WTF is "storm resilient"? During the Nor'easter that occurred in NYC during the 1990's, ferry boats could not dock at either the Whitehall Street Ferry or the St. George Ferry terminals. Why? The water levels were very high and the gang-planks had difficulty meeting the boats, and the flag staffs on the boats scrapped the ceilings of the portal openings. A launched Staten Island ferry had to circle New York Bay for 4 hours waiting for the water levels to recede low enough to allow the ferry to dock! In the designs and reconfigurations of both the Whitehall & St. George Ferry terminals - the openings on the portals were made higher to accommodate the newer boats, and potential higher water levels. During Hurricane Sandy, the ferry terminals experienced a bit of flooding with escalators, elevators and other items damaged. Storm resilient can refer to strengthening the terminals themselves to better handle storms. Mike
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by Edwards! on Thu Sep 18 17:09:24 2014, in response to Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by Michael549 on Thu Sep 18 16:39:30 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d A 'bit' of flooding? The entire lower level was flooded out THROUGHOUT,up State st...Water st...you get the idea. I was on one of the Last boats to make it to Whitehall that day..it was No joke. Three attempts to dock..the last successful. constant bobbing nervous stomach.. never forgot it. Talk about a cheap thrill ride,you couldn't get better at Six Flags.
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by Bill From Maspeth on Thu Sep 18 17:39:31 2014, in response to Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by Michael549 on Thu Sep 18 16:39:30 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Too many things are put on TROPICAL STORM (not a hurricane when it got here) Sandy than necessary.
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Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse
Posted by WillD* on Fri Sep 19 18:26:31 2014, in response to Re: 2 new Staten Island Ferry boats on order, replacing JFK, Barberi & Newhouse, posted by JayZeeBMT on Thu Sep 18 13:22:17 2014.* edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d So long as we're talking flying, go for broke and do a WIG. It'll do 70-90kts rather than the piddling 40-45kts of a Boeing 929. St. George to Whitehall in around 5 minutes! It's just unfortunate Wingship didn't quite get their WSH-500 to look quite as nice as their impression:
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