New York City's first citywide ferry service in more than a century is set to launch next summer, and by 2018 will be operating from 21 landings across the city for the price of single subway ride, officials announced Wednesday. When fully operational by 2018, Citywide Ferry Service will carry an estimated 4.6 million trips per year across six routes, providing new transportation to fast-growing communities, including some in so-called 'transit deserts,' officials say. The Citywide Ferry Service will also fully integrate the East River Ferry, resulting in lower fares for its 4,000 daily riders -- from $4 to $2.75 per ride -- but there will be no free MTA transfers to trains or buses. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the Citywide Ferry Service will be operated by Hornblower, Inc., which has already been operating in the New York Harbor for a decade. 'It’s going to be a commute like no other: fresh air, harbor views and a fast ride on the open water,' de Blasio said in a press release. 'We are selecting an operator with an incredible track record providing service in our harbor.

We look forward to launching with Hornblower next year.' Terry MacRae, CEO of Hornblower, said the ferry service will 'revolutionize the way New Yorkers work, live and play, and we are confident this new system will become a local favorite for decades to come.” The service will add 155 new jobs in the New York Harbor. First time home buyer programs 2019. But New York Water Taxi, which operates the familiar yellow boats, says it will have to shut down and lay off 200 people. • ROUTES • Rockaway, South Brooklyn and Astoria routes scheduled to launch in 2017. • Rockaway route will connect to the Brooklyn Army Terminal and Wall Street.

Governors Island is a 172-acre (70 ha) island in New York Harbor, approximately 800 yards (732 m) from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel, approximately 400 yards (366 m).

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• Astoria route will connect to Astoria, Roosevelt Island (Cornell Tech), Long Island City, East 34th Street and Wall Street. • South Brooklyn route will connect Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Army Terminal, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 and Pier 6, and Wall Street, with an optional link to Governors Island. • Soundview and Lower East Side routes to launch in 2018.

• Routes from Coney Island and Stapleton on Staten Island are in planning stages for future expansion. • Combined routes will cover over 60 miles of waterway. • Over half a million New Yorkers live within a half-mile of one of the 21 Citywide Ferry landings, including 15,000 families living in NYCHA developments. • CITY SUPPORT • City is investing $55 million in infrastructure upgrades, including building 10 new ferry landings and rehabilitating six others.

Barge construction is currently underway at a facility on Staten Island. • City is providing $30 million in operating support per year, over a period of six years. Based on a projection of 4.6 million annual trips, the per-trip subsidy for Citywide Ferry Service will be $6.60, lower than the nearly $8 per trip subsidy on the Long Island Railroad or the nearly $15 per trip subsidy for express busses.City is providing $10 million for additional startup costs, such as vessel upgrades and ticketing machines. • Potential sponsorships would offset operating costs. • City negotiated an option to acquire at least 18 state-of-the-art, highly efficient passenger ferry vessels, allowing for greater operational flexibility and providing significant savings to taxpayers over the life of the service (roughly up to $5 million per year). • City will receive a portion of fare-box revenue if ridership exceeds 5.6 million passengers.