Brand New NYC Water Taxi Stop Makes It Easier to Explore Red Hook
Those who’ve been dying to check out up-and-coming Red Hook will now have a much easier, much more comfortable way of getting to the cozy, cute nabe. The New York Water Taxi Commission has just added a brand new stop that will ferry passengers to Van Brunt Street from Lower Manhattan, DUMBO and Midtown on the West Side. Locals residents have been championing for a stop for the last few years, citing that it would be a boon to business development in the area, particularly for those still hurting from the effects of Superstorm Sandy.
Previously, the only ferry service provided to the nearly-waterlocked neighborhood was via IKEA’s Express Shuttle which would bring Manhattan-side inhabitants from Pier 11 to IKEA for $5 Monday through Friday and for free on weekends. But those who’ve tried the route as a shortcut to Red Hook (over the depressing 15-minute walk from the F or G train) know to add in another 10-12 minutes to get to the heart of what’s going down along Van Brunt.
Officials credit the service expansion to the success of the IKEA ferry and New York Water Taxi’s free weekend summer service, which according to a statement “saw increased ridership between lower Manhattan and Red Hook from its inaugural year.”
The new stop opens up today and the New York Water Taxi is charging $9 (on a per stop basis) for the service. You can check out the water taxi’s schedule here.
Bonus: Here’s a Red Hook neighborhood guide to help plan your jaunt.
[Via Gothamist]
