Bhalla in talks with alternative ferry service providers

The game of brinksmanship between New York Waterway and the City of Hoboken has moved one step closer to a finale.  Irreconcilable differences on the acquisition of prime waterfront property at the former Union Dry Dock site has pushed Hoboken into looking at alternative ferry service companies for its residents.  

This comes after NYWW has suggested it's our way or the highway for Hoboken, holding its status as sole ferry service provider over us like a sword of Damocles.  NYWW has insisted that the only viable location for it's refueling station is Hoboken's former Union Dry Dock site, and NJ Transit proffered two studies showing UDD as the optimal location.  

The City of Hoboken responded with a second engineering study reaffirming its earlier conclusion that the Hoboken Terminal was the optimal location for NYWW's refueling depot.  The City has also invoked eminent domain to buy the UDD site, which is up for 2nd reading at next week's City Council meeting.  

What to do?  

The way to end a marriage of irreconcilable differences is with divorce.  The City cannot "divorce" NYWW before finding a new partner. That appears to be what Hoboken's mayor is doing.

If it works, so be it.

Why not a dedicated Hoboken ferry service to midtown and downtown? Maybe Hoboken residents who don't have to subsidize the operations of a NYWW will pay less per ride. If Bhalla could get Hoboken residents service at a substantively lower price and obtain UDD for a contiguous waterfront, that would be yuge. 

So, the latest development per yesterday's press release:

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BHALLA REGARDING FUTURE OF FERRY SERVICE IN HOBOKEN

Mayor Ravi Bhalla spoke today to the directors of one of the tristate area’s leading ferry operators about the future of ferry service in Hoboken. Below is a statement regarding this conversation.

“This afternoon, I had a very productive conversation with the leadership of one of the region’s leading ferry operators,” said Mayor Bhalla. “They assured me that if New York Waterway chose to no longer operate in Hoboken as they have threatened to do on numerous occasions, this ferry company would be willing to go through the process of becoming Hoboken’s ferry operator. This conversation is the latest proof that a “transportation crisis,” as manufactured by New York Waterway, is nothing more than a blatant lie and intimidation tactic. I remain committed to both preserving the Union Dry Dock site for a public park, while also working with a ferry operator to provide safe, reliable and efficient transportation for our residents.”