Schumer, Clinton Secure $1 Million for Staten Island Replacement Ferries and $3.3 Million for St. George and Whitehall Ferry Terminals

SCHUMER, CLINTON SECURE $1 MILLION FOR STATEN ISLAND REPLACEMENT FERRIES AND $3.3 MILLION FOR ST. GEORGE AND WHITEHALL FERRY TERMINALS

Funding included in the FY05 Omnibus Appropriations bill

Funds are part of the Staten Island Ferry Kennedy Class Replacement Program

Federal funds will provide money for the ongoing reconstruction of both the Staten Island terminals

US Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that Congress will pass the FY2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill which included $1 million for the Staten Island Ferry Replacement, $2.3 million for reconstruction of St. George ferry terminal and $1 million for reconstruction at Whitehall ferry terminal. The funding was included in Transportation, Treasury, and Appropriations portion of the bill. The bill now heads to the President for his signature.

"Staten Islanders know that going to and from work on The Guy Molinari and the other new boats is going to make a huge difference every single day. These funds are a big help for the City to pay for them," Schumer said.

"The Staten Island Ferry is critical for the residents and borough of Staten Island, and for the continued economic viability of lower Manhattan. I am pleased to announce this funding because I know how important it is to keep these ferries running," Senator Clinton said.

The first of the new ferries -"The Guy Molinari" - was launched this summer. The next ferry to be delivered will be the John J. Marchi, and the final new ferry, named the September 11th, is presently under construction at the same shipyard.
The three Kennedy Class ferryboats - the John F. Kennedy, the Herbert Lehman and the American Legion - are the largest boats in the Transportation Department's fleet. Each has been carrying up to 3,500 passengers on each trip between the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island and the Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan since 1965. While each of the ferries has benefitted from extensive mechanical refurbishment and are safe for passengers, they are approximately 14 years past the recommended retirement age for ferries of this type.

The replacement vessels will hold 4,500 passengers and are designed to carry up to 40 vehicles, are designed to be in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which will help ease the commute to and from Manhattan for Staten Islanders who use wheelchairs, crutches, or canes. The new ferries will also will also incorporate the new security features that the New York City Department of Transportation designed into the new vessels in consultation with the United States Coast Guard.

"The work that's being done at the St. George and Whitehall Ferry Terminal is going to transform the commute for tens of thousands of Staten Islanders every day," Schumer said. "Staten Islanders deserve efficient and reliable transportation to work and home - and when this project is done- they'll have terminal that's modern and beautiful and can accommodate the needs of the Island."

"The ferry is critical to the tens of thousands of Staten Islanders who use it every day. The new ferry terminal is part of my continuing commitment to the people of Staten Island to upgrade and modernize ferry service," Senator Clinton said.