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News February, 2005 • MarineNews 5 $9.5M for Manhattan Ferry Service New York area commuters will soon benefit from direct ferry service between Elizabeth, NJ, and lower Manhattan thanks to a $9.5 million federal grant awarded to County of Union, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta said. The Elizabeth ferry project will con- tribute to the expansion and improvement of transportation services to Lower Man- hattan by providing a much needed link for Manhattan residents who work in the rapidly growing Elizabeth area. Noting that ferry service to Manhattan provided a vital transportation link for New York City area commuters following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Secretary Mineta said, "This grant gets us another step closer to a full recov- ery in Lower Manhattan." "The President has made a priority of rebuilding New York's transit systems affected by the terrorist attacks," said Federal Transit Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn. "Today we again deliver on that promise by connecting workers to jobs, shoppers to retail, families to homes, and peace of mind to countless concerned commuters." Elizabeth Ferry operations are expected to begin by June 2006, with direct trips to lower Manhattan every 30 minutes during morning and evening rush hour, then hourly during off-peak times. The 25-minute trip will provide regional travelers with a relatively shorter and con- venient travel option and ease traffic con- gestion along the New Jersey Turnpike. Money will fund construction of a new ferry terminal and two new docks located on the eastern edge of the City of Eliza- beth known as Elizabethport. The termi- nal's amenities include restrooms, ticket- ing and waiting areas, and a parking facil- ity with approximately 815 spaces. By 2010, the ferry is expected to serve 1,192 daily riders. Ferry service proved crucial in the evacuation of lower Manhattan during the 9/11 attacks and during a major blackout in August 2003. It also served as a vital alternate mode of transportation during the shutdown of the Port Authority Trans- Hudson (PATH) downtown line from September 2001 through November 2003. With this grant, the Bush Administration has awarded nearly $90 million in fund- ing so far, out of a total commitment of $100 million in emergency recovery sup- port appropriated for ferry related projects in the New York area. It is part of the $4.5 billion in transit capital construction fund- ing appropriated by Congress for the recovery of Lower Manhattan following 9/11. Quality Control 8238 129th Street, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada V3W 0A6 E-mail: tmg@kobelt.com Website: www.kobelt.com Sales: 604.590.7313 Fax: 604.590.8313 Integrated Systems from Kobelt. firm grip, a gentle nudge, and a state-of- the-art computer keeping everything under control. Our steering and propulsion systems are made from long-lasting bronze and stainless steel. Add our microprocessor, and you’ve got a flexible, integrated system that will take you anywhere you want to go. Kobelt Manufacturing has been producing high quality marine controls and steering for over 35 years. We back every one of our products with a 5 year warranty, along with worldwide sales and support. Contact us today! A USACE Honored in Kansas City The Kansas City Industrial Council awarded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District one of the council's top honors. The District was awarded the "Brick by Brick" award for its efforts in constructing and managing projects throughout the Greater Kansas City area that provide flood protection for regional busi- nesses and the area's more than 1 million residents. "The Corps work in protecting Kansas City is important to the economy of the region," said Dan Fuhrman, president of the council. "Any time there is flooding, it effects the jobs of several thousand people and the ability for businesses to recover. "By working with other agencies to protect the area from flood- ing, the Corps has proven they are important to the economy of the area," he said. Specifically mentioned in the Tuesday cere- mony was the Corps ongoing effort to increase flood protection from Turkey Creek in the Southwest Boulevard corridor. The effort, a partnership between the Unified Government of Wyan- dotte County, Kansas City Missouri and the Kansas Department of Transportation, comes at a cost of nearly $73 million. "This partnership led by the Corps is a noble and dynamic effort that has saved taxpayers several million dollars," Fuhrman said. The Turkey Creek project is one of several in the area the Corps has built to boost flood protection for the metro. Efforts on Brush Creek near the Plaza and improving the Blue River channel on the city's eastside are credited with preventing millions in flood damages. Circle 223 on Reader Service Card MN FEB05 (1-8).qxd 1/26/2005 3:31 PM Page 5
