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Red Hook's Atlantic Basin May Get Citywide Ferry Dock, Officials Say

By Nikhita Venugopal | February 19, 2016 8:29am
 The city will consider Atlantic Basin as a potential dock location for ferry service in Red Hook, officials said.
The city will consider Atlantic Basin as a potential dock location for ferry service in Red Hook, officials said.
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DNAinfo/Amy Langfield

RED HOOK — Atlantic Basin will be considered for a ferry dock after Red Hook residents pushed for its inclusion in the Citywide Ferry Service plan, officials told Community Board 6's transportation committee Thursday night.

The Atlantic Basin, located adjacent to the Brooklyn Cruise Ship Terminal, along with Erie Basin near Ikea, have been added to the list of locations to be studied, Economic Development Corporation city officials said.

EDC officials told residents last fall that Atlantic Basin had been ruled out because of U.S. Coast Guard security restrictions when a cruise shop was docked nearby, as well as the basin's small opening that would require ferries to slow down for too long.

At the time, officials said they were weighing only two potential dock locations in Red Hook — the far end of the pier at Van Brunt Street and the pier at Valentino Park.

But the community advocated for Atlantic Basin, arguing it was the most accessible option for locals and employees.

"It's centrally located, it's near the Van Brunt corridor, it's by the bus," said CB6 member and Red Hook resident Jerry Armer. "It's also close to the residential area."

City project manager Alex Brady told residents Thursday night that they had conceptual approval from the U.S. Coast Guard for the dock location.

"They want to see more details about how we would handle everything, but they don't think it's a showstopper," he said.

The EDC is also in discussion with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the Container Terminal by the basin.

An examination of Atlantic Basin had found that it was possible for a ferry to travel in and out of the inlet without breaching the security perimeter around the Cruise Terminal or interrupting other maritime activity in the basin, Brady said.

"There is still a way to get into the basin and pass that security zone so it doesn't totally shut off the mouth of the basin," he added.

For the Van Brunt Street ferry location, the city had originally proposed its placement at the end of the pier, which residents said was too far from neighborhood hubs of activity. 

But after further study, the city determined it could be placed closer to Fairway Market and the existing Water Taxi stop.

"We initially thought that the water was too shallow to come in any closer," Brady said.

While Erie Basin near Ikea is being considered, a big drawback is that it's not centrally located and would be a long walk for pedestrians. The barge would also have to slow down as it entered the basin, adding more travel time to the route.

Residents had also pushed back against a potential dock at Valentino Pier, but as the only city-controlled site, officials are keeping it as a back-up option. 

"We hear you," Brady said. It's not at the top of our list."

Justine Johnson, EDC assistant vice president, said they have not yet chosen an operator for the ferry service, but the decision is expected soon.

Crain's reported Thursday that San Francisco-based Hornblower Cruises & Events had been selected. Johnson and Brady declined to comment. 

A draft Environmental Impact Statement for Citywide Ferry Service will be released at the end of February. After community review, a final statement will be published in April.

It is possible, though not guaranteed, that the chosen ferry dock location for Red Hook will be mentioned in the final statement, Brady said. 

The expanded ferry service, announced last year by Mayor Bill de Blasio, is expected to begin in Brooklyn, Astoria and Rockaway next year. The ferry stops on the Brooklyn route are Manhattan’s Pier 11/Wall Street, DUMBO, Pier 6 in Brooklyn Heights, Red Hook, Sunset Park’s Brooklyn Army Terminal and Bay Ridge.

The Citywide Ferry Service will not be integrated with the MTA's MetroCard. But since the MTA plans to phase out the swipe cards in the near future, the EDC has expressed interest in working with the state agency once that transition takes place, Johnson said.

Within the ferry system, there will be free transfer, she added.

The CB6 committee unanimously voted Thursday to support Atlantic Basin as the stop for the ferry in Red Hook.