Dear Editor:
This was a historic week for our great city. While many know Hoboken as the birthplace of baseball, not as many realize that we are also, in a way, the birthplace of the ferry. It was 200 years ago, in October of 1811, that Colonel John Stevens III began the first steam-powered ferry service in the world between Hoboken and lower Manhattan. Ever since, ferry service has been a part of Hoboken, but unfortunately the opening of bridges and tunnels eventually led to our historic ferry terminal closing in the 1960s due to lack of ridership.
This week, thanks to the efforts of NJ Transit, the Port Authority, NY Waterway and others, we re-opened the historic ferry terminal to the public – the culmination of a $120 million investment.
I invite our community to visit this beautiful piece of history, the public art, and the five restored ferry slips. Hoboken has the distinction of having more public transportation commuters per capita, 56 percent, than any other city in the country. And now, on their way to work, commuters will walk through history in this beautifully restored building.
I encourage residents to take advantage of the ferries and all of the public transportation options that we are so fortunate to have, and I wish everyone a very happy holiday season and New Year.
Sincerely,
Mayor Dawn Zimmer