DOT Announces Ferry Safety Improvements
New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall outlined several interim initiatives designed to enhance safety at the Staten Island Ferry. "At the Department of Transportation, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who perished during last week's Staten Island Ferry tragedy," the Commissioner said. "We are continuing to cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation. While many questions remain unanswered, we must act now to improve safety. The riders of the Staten Island Ferry deserve no less." Commissioner Weinshall outlined initiatives that were developed in consultation with the United States Coast Guard.
News: NY DOT Announces Ferry Safety Improvements
New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall outlined several interim initiatives designed to enhance safety at the Staten Island Ferry. The Commissioner said "we are continuing to cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation. While many questions remain unanswered, we must act now to improve safety. The riders of the Staten Island Ferry deserve no less." Commissioner Weinshall outlined initiatives that were developed in consultation with the United States Coast Guard. • Ensure a permanent presence in pilot house. Effective immediately, a deckhand assigned to the operational (inshore) pilot house will be positioned in that pilot house at all times.
Project Aimed to Reduce Emissions
The Port Authority Board of Commissioners has approved a measure to undertake a demonstration project with the New York City Department of Transportation to retrofit a Staten Island ferryboat with new exhaust emission reduction devices. If the project is successful, a new agreement between the two agencies could be developed to retrofit the remaining six vessels in the Staten Island Ferry fleet. The demonstration project grew out of discussions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and environmental agencies in New Jersey, New York and New York City on air impacts associated with the upcoming project to deepen channels in New York harbor to 50 feet.
