NYC Ferry launches service from Astoria

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - The first NYC Ferry boat left from Astoria at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. While on the maiden voyage, we saw the city from a whole new perspective.

The 45-minute trip started from the floating terminal in Hallets Cove at 3-10 Astoria Boulevard to Pier 11 on Wall Street and made three stops along the way at Roosevelt Island, Long Island City, and East 34th Street.

Roosevelt Island residents said the ferry opens up a world of options for them.

During the week, ferries from Astoria will run every 35 minutes between 6:30 and 9:50 a.m. and again between 3:40 and 6:45 p.m. During off-peak hours, boats will leave every 50 minutes. On the weekends, every 33 minutes.

"Our roads are too crowded and congested, our subways are getting more crowded, we got to take advantage of other options," Mayor Bill de Blasio told Good Day New York. "Look at our waterways right here – we're not using them enough."

This is the fourth route launched by NYC Ferry since May 1 and there has been a lot of demand. 1.4 million passengers have taken the ferry since its inception and more than 12,000 riders rely on it every day. But that has a led to long lines and delays on the East River and Rockaway lines. The city plans to add capacity to three of its 20 vessels to accommodate more riders.

"We have been adding additional trips at peak times, running larger boats, particularly on some of these summer weekends when people are trying to get to the beach or Governors Island," said Anthony Hogrebe of the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

The price of a ticket is $2.75, the same cost of a subway ride. A 30-day unlimited ferry pass is $121, the same as a 30-day MetroCard.

NYC Ferry is adding two more routes. One from the Lower East Side and the other from the Soundview section of the Bronx. They're set to launch in summer 2018.