After the NY Waterway ferry company suffered from financial problems last year, there were concerns over who would continue to run the boats back and forth across the Hudson River. In a tentative agreement reached last week by the Port Authority and the BillyBey Ferry Company LLC, portions of the trans-Hudson ferry operations will be managed by BillyBey, which will ease the financial strain on NY Waterway and continue service for the thousands of commuters.
However, concerns over the stability of these privately owned entities and the possibility of the ferries one day being transferred to less capable ownership also prompted Assembly Speaker and West New York Mayor Albio Sires to continue advocating a bill to empower NJ Transit, as a last resort, to assume control of the ferry services if the new system fails.
In a statement released by the Port Authority, William B. Wachtel, sole owner of the BillyBey Ferry Company, said, “We are pleased to be a part of this private-sector solution that is being facilitated by the Port Authority and officials of New York and New Jersey. The ferry system has grown to become an important, environmentally sensitive part of the region’s transportation system. Upwards of 30,000 commuter trips are taken every workday, and the demise of the system would have created immediate and dramatic congestion problems at the Hudson River bridge and tunnel crossings.”
Port Authority Chairman Anthony R. Coscia said, “This agreement ensures that ferries will continue to play a vital role as we look for ways to relieve congestion on our highways, bridges, tunnels and rail and bus systems.”
Committee meeting
On Monday, Feb. 14, the state Assembly’s Transportation Committee met at West New York Middle School at 10 a.m. to examine Sires’ legislation, which he had proposed earlier this year.
First up to speak was Sires, who stressed the importance of the ferries, especially within his own town of West New York and the surrounding North Hudson areas.
“A contingency plan needs to be put in place in the event new private ownership of the NY Waterway ferries results in burdensome fares or less-than-optimum service for commuters,” said Sires. “We have the largest density of people in the country, and the ferry helps to reduce the number of vehicles.”
The measure, which was co-sponsored by Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman John Wisniewski and Assemblywoman Linda Stender, would grant the New Jersey Transit Corporation the authority to operate passenger ferry service between points in New Jersey and points in other states, if private ownership fails or if NY Waterway falls into financial constraints again.
The bill would also empower NJ Transit to build ferry support facilities such as parking lots, docks, and ramps. The mass-transit agency also would be permitted to acquire passenger ferries and ferry operations.
“This is a fall-back mechanism if the new private ownership proves unsatisfactory for the community,” said Sires. “NJ Transit in my vision is the ideal agency, if private ownership ever goes array, to protect the quality of service.”
Also speaking on behalf of the bill that day were Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, state Sen. Joseph Doria, Mayor David Roberts of Hoboken, and Mayor Richard Turner of Weehawken.
“Twelve thousand Hoboken residents rely on the ferry service daily,” said Roberts. “Ferry service for the city of Hoboken is essential. Over the last 10 years, 3,500 new jobs have been created in Hoboken, and about $11 billion dollars in [increased] ratables.”
Everyone stressed the importance of the ferry operations to ease Hudson County’s traffic congestion, and the strain it takes off the tunnels, rails, and bus systems.
Concerns
For the most part, the committee was in agreement with the bill. But they did put forth some concerns with regards to subsidies, especially on commuter fares, and other alternate solutions to further avoid another ferry crisis.
“Poor business practices allowed this ferry system to shut down,” said Assemblyman Kevin J. O’Toole. “[The ferry] has become a viable alternative to travel, and the community needs reliable transportation.”
Another point that was stressed about the ferry was its role during the Sept. 11 attacks and the Summer Blackout of 2003. Weehawken alone had 70,000 people brought by boat during 9/11.
“In Hudson County, the ferries are not a luxury; they are a necessity,” said DeGise. “Allowing NJ Transit to [take an active role] is important to our local, regional, and national security.”
The ferries took on the task of carrying thousands of stranded people away from the danger zones in New York City during 9/11. It was the only means of travel out of the city, and thanks to the ferries, people who were wounded were also able to seek medical attention across the river.
“Ferries have always been an important part of the region’s transportation landscape, but never more so than after the September 11 terrorist attacks when rail and highway access to Manhattan was limited,” said Coscia.
Private enterprise agreement
The Hudson River ferries provide service for 15,000 people a day, and have been a vital component of mass transit for the communities of Hudson County. For nearly two decades, the Weehawken-based NY Waterway company has been providing reliable service, and last year they began to heavily experience some difficulties with low ridership, among other things.
According to the agreement made with BillyBey Ferry Company, which is privately owned by New York attorney William B. Wachtel, BillyBey will be required to continue the route operations from Hoboken South and Jersey City. The NY Waterway, however, has retained its contracts for Hoboken North and North Hudson, and will continue to operate those routes. They will also continue to serve the additional communities of Belford, N.J. and Haverstraw, N.Y.
“If we can keep this operation as a private enterprise, this legislation will give the state the ability to step in [if necessary],” said O’Toole.
Richard Turner, mayor of Weehawken, which houses two ferry ports, believes that NY Waterway is hoping, with the relief of their financial burden, they will be able to re-stabilize their operations and the further selling of contracts will be unnecessary.
Awaiting final approval
After hearing the testimonies of all the speakers and mutual agreements by representatives of the Port Authority, the bill was unanimously released by the committee, which included Assemblyman Brian Stack, who is also mayor of Union City, one of the towns in North Hudson that is very dependent on the ferries.
The bill will now go to the full house for a vote sometime in March. Once it is passed in the Assembly and the Senate and signed by the governor, it will take immediate affect. Supporters of the bill feel fairly confident that the bill will pass, especially since there seemed to be opposition to the matter.
“A good sign is that it was released unanimously by [both] the Republican and Democratic parties, and no one there was opposed to the concept,” said Richard Turner, mayor of Weehawken. “I think it is recognized as a means by which [in a crisis] in the ferry operation, there is a way for the government to step in.”
Should NJ Transit ever have to make that transition, it will be a joint decision made by the governor, the New Jersey Transit Board of Commissioners, and the Commission Board of the Department of Transportation. Ultimately, the goal is for private ownership to succeed, but in the event of unforeseen problems, the government will now have an easier time stepping in without having to go thorough extra legalities.
“This is simply a backup plan, and I think it is only prudent that we have a backup plan,” said Sires.