Here's How You Can Choose Which Seat You Want on the Staten Island Ferry

STATEN ISLAND — The city wants you to help choose the seats on the new Staten Island Ferries.

The city's Department of Transportation launched a survey Monday to gather opinions on three proposed seat styles for new ferries that are currently being designed.

Samples of the seats were installed for commuters to try out inside the Whitehall terminal.

“There is a lot of excitement about the new ferry class joining the Staten Island Ferry in the future, so we are raising the curtain a bit this week to demonstrate what seating could look like on the vessels,” DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said in a statement.

Workers will be in the terminal this week to ask commuters what they think of the seats and the DOT also started an online survey.

Last year, the city secured more than $190 million in federal funds to buy two new boats, as well as making flood-proof upgrades to the ferry's facilities and landings.

The new ferries will replace the againg 33-year-old Andrew J. Barberi and Samuel I. Newhouse boats as well as the nearly 50-year-old John F. Kennedy. 

The Elliott Bay Design Group, which is working on the new ships, told the Staten Island Advance they are being modeled after the John F. Kennedy boat — a favorite among commuters.

The design phase for the 4.500-seat boats is expected to finish in 2019, the DOT said.