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Greenpoint Ferry Service Set to Return Before G Train Stops for Repairs

By Serena Dai | July 17, 2014 12:13pm | Updated on July 17, 2014 12:49pm
 Cranes were installing a new landing for Greenpoint's East River Ferry stop on Thursday.
Cranes were installing a new landing for Greenpoint's East River Ferry stop on Thursday.
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Instagram/East River Ferry

GREENPOINT — Greenpoint's ferry stop may be back in service by next Friday.

The India Street dock that shut down in February after a ramp suddenly collapsed is expected to be replaced in the next week, according to the city's Economic Development Corporation spokesman Ian Fried.

RedSky Capital, which privately owns the pier, should be finished installing the new ramp by the time the G train suspends service for five weeks for Superstorm Sandy repairs next Friday, said Fried, whose organization is in charge of the ferry route and works with the landings.

Greenpoint riders have had to take a shuttle to the North Williamsburg stop for the past five months.

"The G train is a critical transportation link for people in the area," Fried said. "We recognize the importance of making sure the East River Ferry is operating in Greenpoint prior to the G train shutdown. RedSky has always operated with this in mind.”

The gangway leading to the ferry's landing detached in February during a snowstorm, giving away moments after riders had crossed. Noone was injured.

Preliminary reports indicated the gangway itself was safe, but the poles holding it up had problems, Fried said.

Engineers are still investigating to fully determine what happened, he said.

The city allowed RedSky to move forward by building a new landing and gangway instead of repairing the old one.

"Obviously safety is the first priority," Fried said. "There’s no way that the ferry landing will open until it is absolutely safe to do so."

Cranes were on-site Thursday morning to install the new ferry stop.

Besides Greenpoint, the ferry stops at Wall Street, Brooklyn Bridge Park, South Williamsburg's Schaefer Landing, North Williamsburg at North 6th Street, Long Island City and Midtown at East 34th Street.