SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $2.4 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR SANDY-RELATED REPAIRS TO STATEN ISLAND’S ST. GEORGE FERRY TERMINAL & WHITEHALL FERRY TERMINAL
Storm Surge From Sandy Flooded Both Staten Island’s St. George Ferry Terminal & Manhattan’s Whitehall Ferry Terminal; SI Ferry Service Was Suspended 72 Hours After Storm Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $2 Million in FTA Funding for NYCDOT; Funding Will Be Used to Reimburse NYCDOT for Inventory Replacement at Ferry Maintenance Facility, Ongoing Roof Repair at Whitehall Ferry Terminal & More
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced over $2.4 million in federal funding for Sandy recovery projects at the Staten Island St. George and Whitehall Ferry Terminals as well as bus stops citywide. The funding will be provided to the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) as part of the Hurricane Sandy Relief-Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
“Superstorm Sandy highlighted how important ferries are to our transit system during emergencies and so, we need to make sure both Staten Island Ferry terminals are in good shape,” said Senator Schumer. “I am pleased to announce this federal investment, which will go towards emergency work at the St. George Ferry Terminal ramps and roof repair at Whitehall Ferry Terminal. “
“As New York continues to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy, I am pleased to announce this federal funding that will go toward repairs at the Staten Island Ferry terminal,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “We must make sure both the Whitehall and St. George Terminals are in full working order because reliable ferry service is critical to Staten Island’s economy and to the daily lives of the New Yorkers who live and commute there.”
The FTA funds, in the amount of $2,454,993, will go towards inventory replacement at the Ferry Maintenance Facility at the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island and emergency response prep/recovery work of the St. George Terminal Ramps. This work has already been completed, and the grant will reimburse expenses. Funding will also be used towards ongoing roof repairs at Whitehall Ferry Terminal; the grant will fund future expenses. In addition, funding will be used to reimburse replacement/installation of NYCDOT bus stops damaged by Superstorm Sandy and project administration of Sandy-related Emergency Relief Funding.
The Staten Island Ferry provides 22 million people a year (70,000 passengers a day, not including weekend days) with ferry service between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan. The ferry is the only non-vehicular mode of transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan.
Superstorm Sandy damaged both the St. George Ferry Terminal and the Whitehall Ferry Terminal. Water from the storm surge engulfed both terminals. Service was suspended for 72 hours after the storm.
