Port Authority approves 10-year, $2.6M land lease for Bayonne ferry service to Manhattan

0

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved a 10-year, $2.6 million land lease that should allow Bayonne’s ferry service to Manhattan to be operational by September.

Photo via SeaStreak.com.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“An historic day in Bayonne! Thank you to @PANYNJ and Chairman O’Toole for supporting our city and helping to make ferry service available to our residents,” Mayor Jimmy Davis tweeted shortly after Thursday’s vote by the Port Authority Board of Commissioners.

Specifically, the governing body for the bi-state agency okayed the Peninsula City to lease 65,000 square-feet of land at the Port Jersey–Port Authority Marine Terminal, previously known as the Military Ocean Terminal at Bayonne.

“Expanding options for the growing population of commuters along the Hudson River waterfront is a critical part of this agency’s commitment to keep the region moving,” added Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.

“[Thursday’s] action will allow us to take an underutilized piece of port property and partner with the City of Bayonne to support much needed trans-Hudson service connecting people to their jobs, families and homes.”

A Bayonne ferry service has been discussed by local officials for around two years, announcing a $650,000 grant for the project back in May 2018, about a month before releasing a request for proposals.

SeaStreak was selected as the operator in October 2018 and the city approved them as their official carrier as part of a leasing agreement that allows them to serve as an intermediary between the Port Authority and SeaStreak in August of last year.

Assemblyman Nick Chiaravalloti (D-31) also expressed great optimism about the project nearing completion.

“This is exciting news for all the residents of the city of Bayonne. Mayor Davis and his team have worked hard to bring the ferry service to the Peninsula City,” he said in his own statement.

“As you look at the progress that has been made at the former MOT, this ferry service is yet another example about the positive future for Bayonne.”


Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /home/hcvcp/public_html/wp-content/themes/Hudson County View/includes/wp_booster/td_block.php on line 353

LEAVE A REPLY