Ferry From Five Towns? Local Pols Want To See It Happen

To Long Island politicians want the MTA to consider adding a ferry to Manhattan on the South Shore, which would give Nassau residents more options for commuting to the city.

Senator Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat from Long Beach, and Assemblywoman Melissa Miller, an Atlantic Beach Republican, sent a letter to Joseph Lhota, chairman of the MTA, requesting that he join them for a tour of potential docking sites near Inwood, or other suitable locations, on the South Shore of Nassau County.

"A ferry route along the South Shore will create options for commuters when the next crisis regarding the LIRR inevitably arrives," Kaminsky said. "Regardless of the success of this summer’s planned repairs, the long-term economic viability of Long Island depends on improving and diversifying our mass-transit system. It is not enough to simply say, 'We made it through the Summer of Hell,' and then act surprised when a “'inter of Hell' immediately follows, and we are not prepared. A ferry route would be a key, new way to get passengers off of our roads, and out of Penn Station."

In their letter, Kaminsky and Miller highlighted the repairs that will extend beyond the summer, such as major renovations to the East River tunnel, which will also cause huge delays for the LIRR. Creating the South Shore ferryline would not only help commuters avoid the delays, but also help ease the overcrowding at Penn Station, which was never designed to handle the amount of traffic it currently receives.

"Solving our ongoing transportation problems is going to require new ideas and fresh solutions," Miller said. "Long Island commuters deserve relief from train cancellations and delays. Unreliable public transit has led to congestion and gridlock on our roadways as residents become wary of taking the train and choose to drive. A ferry from our community to Manhattan would alleviate these issues and provide residents with a safe, reliable commute. Revitalizing and expanding our transit system with a ferry route along the South Shore is a wise investment in our future and helps address a serious ongoing problem we’re facing right now."

Photo: Sen. Todd Kaminsky's Office