hurricane Sandy

Commuters move to board the Staten Island Ferry towards Manhattan one week after Superstorm Sandy crashed into the metropolitan area, wreaking havoc and shutting down mass transit services for days. (AP Photo/ John Minchillo)

(John Minchillo)

CITY HALL -- The Staten Island Ferry fleet will be updated as part of a $255.4 million resiliency project developed in response to Hurricane Sandy.

Two new storm-resilient boats will be included in the project, along with floodproofing for both the Manhattan and Staten Island ferry terminals and upgrades to landings citywide.

"We've always known that the ferries are outdated and we need a replacement," U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said.

Officials on Wednesday announced $191.55 million in federal funds for the project. The city will finance $63.85 million.

The funds will be used to modernize the ferry fleet and landings after Hurricane Sandy highlighted the need for a resiliency overhaul. The ferries were mostly unscathed during the storm, but there was $30 million in damage at the Whitehall and St. George terminals and piers. The ferries themselves didn't operate for five days.

Federal support for the project comes from the third allotment of disaster Federal Transit Administration funding, via the Sandy Relief Bill.

Schumer said he and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) had to "lobby pretty hard" for the funds. "There are more needs than money," he added.

James DeSimone, the chief operations officer of the Staten Island Ferry, said the city Department of Transportation began a preliminary design investigation into new boats a couple of years ago.

The federal money will allow the city to move forward with design and, eventually, construction.

BETTER EQUIPPED

The new vessels will be better equipped for rougher conditions and more locations, with four cycloidal drives each and side doors. This will allow the ferries to operate in more extreme weather and dock at more terminals around the city.

"The propulsion of the vessel will be very maneuverable," DeSimone said.

The dock flexibility will also help the ferries better respond to emergencies, Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said. And the new boats will have a higher capacity than some older vessels, with room for 4,500 passengers.

"They're going to have great resiliency should we ever encounter something like Hurricane Sandy again," Ms. Trottenberg said.

What the boats will look like, though, is unclear.

"We know they'll be orange," DeSimone said.

Together, the boats are estimated to cost $155 million. Roughly $5.625 million will also be used for floodproofing at the Whitehall and St. George terminals, to safeguard against the type of damage sustained during Sandy.

Some $30 million in federal funds will be allocated for landing enhancements and facility modifications to accommodate the new ferries in four other citywide locations. Hunters Point and East 34th Street are priority spots right now, but one of the other two locations will likely be in Brooklyn. Two "flex barges" will also be established, for deployment at multiple locations.

The project is expected to take several years to complete and the city is just beginning the design phase. Bid specification may not begin for over a year, DeSimone said.

The new ferries will replace older boats, such as the 33-year-old Barberi and Newhouse, and the 50-year-old John F. Kennedy. They will be on the normal ferry rotation schedule, not just for storm use.

BROAD BENEFITS

Officials said the benefits of the new boats and upgrades go beyond post-Sandy resiliency.

"The Staten Island Ferry is a key piece of the city's larger transportation network," Ms. Trottenberg said.

The ferry is the only non-vehicular way to travel between the borough and Manhattan, with a weekday ridership of 70,000 people.

"These upgrades will improve commutes for thousands of Staten Islanders and ensure we have more reliable, more flexible ferry service when emergencies strike -- a key part of our comprehensive resiliency plan," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.

The changes also will help the rest of the city, officials said. Though some other ferry operators are eyeing a spot near the planned New York Wheel and Empire Outlets, the Staten Island Ferry upgrades will also help get more visitors to the North Shore when the attractions open, officials said.

Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) said in a statement that part of her negotiations for the Wheel and outlets included the commitment of city funds for new ferryboats. A more resilient fleet, she said, was welcome.

"The Staten Island Ferry is not only a vital transportation link for my constituents, but it also brings thousands of visitors to Staten Island, a number that will only increase as our North Shore Renaissance takes shape," Ms. Rose said.