Transportation
The Unexpectedly Compelling Case for Ferries
As a complementary form of mass transit, they've actually got a lot to recommend them.
Sometimes it's necessary to start with the caveats, and making the case for ferries is one of those times.
When Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a six-line, $55 million ferry plan for New York City, much of the criticism that followed seemed fair. Some pointed to the huge per-rider subsidies on the Staten Island ($5.95) and short-lived Rockaway ($21.22) ferries, especially versus those of the subway (56 cents) or city bus ($1.59). Others noted how these public costs were questionable given that ferries tend to serve a wealthier waterfront population. The most complete breakdown of ferry flaws, courtesy of Ben Kabak, noted poor connectivity and fare structure as detractions from the city's real transportation problems: