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Councilman James Oddo told the Advance a rewritten version of his bill to increase ferry service will be voted out of the Transportation Committee Monday and will be considered by the full Council at its stated meeting Wednesday.

(Staten Island Advance/Steve Zaffarano)

This entry has been updated to add comments from Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) and Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore).



6:35 - This entry has been update to clarify Bill de Blasio's stance on the legislation.





STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Increased Staten Island Ferry service -- culminating in a boat every 30 minutes, around the clock, by May 2015 -- is expected to be approved by the City Council Wednesday with a veto-proof mandate.

Councilman James Oddo told the Advance a rewritten version of his bill to increase ferry service will be voted out of the Transportation Committee Monday and will be considered by the full Council at its stated meeting Wednesday.

Here's how the legislation would work: Within six months, the city will be required to increase weekend service to once every half hour from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., as long as the DOT has the sufficient staff.

"The next milestone is May 1, 2015," Oddo said. "We get half hour service, 24/7."

The staffing language in the bill is to deal with a potential hiccup -- there are strict U.S. Coast Guard rules regarding how much staff must be on each boat, and how much training they must have.

If the service increase maxes out the DOT's staffing for the ferry -- requiring new hiring and lengthy training -- they'll be allowed to take up to 18 months to increase service.

The push for service at least every 30 minutes, around the clock, began in May with a bipartisan push from the Staten Island delegation, including Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore) and Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore).

"Together with the Staten Island community, we made demands known and we're ultimately going to have better service because of it," Ignizio said, calling it a great day for Staten Islanders and commuters.

Ms. Rose called it a victory for all Staten Islanders.

"I am so excited that this long-awaited legislation is moving forward. This bill is about basic fairness - waiting an hour or more for the ferry at night and on weekends is an unacceptable situation which is not tolerated in any other borough," Ms. Rose said. "Now Staten Island commuters and the many tourists who take the ferry can be assured that they will have reasonable access to this important and vital transportation resource."

Oddo said the Bloomberg Administration has expressed some concerns with the 24/7 30-minute service aspect of the bill -- but with more than 40 sponsors and support of Speaker Christine Quinn and the Democratic caucus, Oddo doesn't expect a veto to be a problem. Additionally, GOP candidate Joe Lhota has said he'd support 30-minute service round the clock.

De Blasio has previously told the Advance he'd support increased ferry service, but hasn't weighed in yet on this specific legislation, which a spokesman said he is studying.

"My hope is that the administration supports the bill," Oddo said.

He pointed out that many investors are looking to get into the North Shore at a time when a slew of projects are underway.

"I think it is a very powerful message to send to the residents, the commuters, and the potential investors in the North Shore that it's open for business and that there is a consistent means of transportation," Oddo said.

He said he's told the administration he's not out to waste city resources -- if the service isn't being used, it could always be scaled back.

The bill also includes a provision for the May 1, 2015 date to be moved back if it's not "economically feasible" to add service.

But Oddo doesn't see that happening.

"You have two mayoral candidates, both on the record, recognizing the importance of half-hour service," he said. "So I fully expect, short of a collapse in the economy, that this a date certain that we are establishing this level of service."

He extended thanks to members of the St. George Ferry Riders Committee, Nicholas Zvegintzov and Richenda Kramer for bringing him the idea -- and Speaker Quinn, who he said "adds to a rather amazing Staten Island legacy."