Bayonne’s status as North Jersey’s next emerging residential hotspot solidified last Friday when city officials met with the Port Authority to discuss a proposed ferry route to Manhattan. This plan has been two years in the making, so Friday’s meeting was a major milestone in the project – although Port Authority Steve Coleman was mum about the details.

From what we know about Bayonne’s proposed plan, the ferry terminal would be located at the Military Ocean Terminal Base’s southern coast, about a half mile east of the Harbor Pointe apartments.

The commuter ferry route, with NY Waterway’s involvement, would connect Bayonne to Staten Island and West 39th Street in Midtown Manhattan.

“They’re OK with the concept. Now it’s about how does that actually work out,” city Business Administrator Joe DeMarco said, “What I anticipate is (The Port Authority) will have certain standards that they will want met, and either it’s something that is capable of being done, or it is not.” That decision is in the hands of numerous Port Authority departments, including commerce and legal. Upon approval, expect 18 months to completion.

The ferry would improve traffic, real estate values, and emergency readiness. “The ferry has a lot of obvious value, and then a lot of hidden value,” DeMarco said. “Should you have to evacuate the city, right now you’re limited to the light rail, the Turnpike and the Bayonne Bridge. We don’t really have water access.”

We’ll have more on this story as it develops.