As a pre-screening for New Yorkers, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and Queens Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott today announced that a scale model of the brand new NYC Ferry boats will be on display in Queens as the first two stops of a multi-borough tour.
The first ferries will be arriving in New York for their launch in early summer 2017, and the model will be on display in the lobby of Queens Borough Hall through Sunday, January 1st, and then will sail over to the Queens Library at Peninsula from Tuesday, January 3rd through Sunday, January 15th.
The NYC Ferry model will give Queens residents a first glimpse of some of the exciting features that will be offered in the spacious, modern vessels launching in the summer of 2017:
- Capacity for 150 passengers along with space for bikes, strollers and wheelchairs.
- ADA Local Law 68/2005 accessibility and compliance.
- Ferries are primarily built out of aluminum, which is safe, light weight and increases fuel efficiency.
- The fleet of 19 vessels will be built with the equivalent of over 77 million cans of aluminum.
- Use of ultra-efficient engines to reduce emissions.
- Innovative hull design to limit wake and maximize fuel efficiency.
- Wi-Fi available throughout the vessel.
- Heated decks that increase each vessel’s resiliency and durability, especially during the cold, snowy winter months.
So what are the NYC Ferry team and NYCEDC officials saying about this model showcase?
“You don’t have to wait till next summer to see NYC Ferry sailing around the borough. The scaled model making its way around Queens will give future riders and local neighborhoods an intimate look into these state of the art vessels that will be landing in New York City in 2017 and providing millions of New Yorkers and visitors with a new way to work, live, play.” – Cameron Clark, Senior Vice President for Hornblower and Project Manager for NYC Ferry.
“Starting next summer, we’re bringing NYC Ferry Service to twenty-one landings around the city, transforming commutes for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, and starting today, we’re bringing a sneak preview of our brand new, state-of-the-art boats directly to people in Queens, with more tour stops to be announced in the weeks ahead.” – NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer
“We are very pleased to host a scale model of a NYC Ferry boat here in Queens first, right in the front lobby of Borough Hall. While the model is on display, visitors to Borough Hall will get a glimpse of the future of transportation in Queens, which has long been underserved by traditional mass transit. The NYC Ferry service will provide fast and affordable transportation to tens of thousands of Queens residents and we look forward to its operation next year.” – Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.
“We are delighted to host the prototype for this new mode of transportation for the Rockaways and beyond. As a hub of information, education and many community activities, Peninsula Community Library is a natural place to show it off.” – Queens Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott.