Red Hook Ferry A Welcome Connection, Residents Say
Red Hook residents on Saturday celebrated the launch of a new free ferry service between the Brooklyn neighborhood and Lower Manhattan. The ferries run between Pier 11 in Manhattan to a new stop right behind Fairway Market on Van Brunt Street. The grocery store threw a party to celebrate the first day of the service.
Parts of Red Hook are still reeling from Hurricane Sandy, but ferry riders and residents say they hope the new easy access will help get the neighborhood back on its feet. "The idea is we've got word going on Twitter, we've got information going on our website, Mayor Bloomberg's got it on his website. We're trying to promote it in such a way that people can come back and realize Red Hook has survived the storm and businesses hopefully will flourish as a result," said Ferry Director of Operations Rich Dobbins. "It was a quick trip. Nice and easy. Beautiful," said one ferry rider. "It'll help us redevelop the Red Hook area, by bringing in people who don't live in the area as I do," said one Red Hook business owner.
The expanded service will include two boats operating weekends from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. throughout the summer.
http://brooklyn.ny1.com/content/top_stories/182727/red-hook-ferry-a-welcome-connection--residents-say