[NYguy]

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf..._north_sh.html

Water taxis between Staten Island, Manhattan may serve New York Wheel




Special presenters Win Wharton of Empire Outlets and BFC partners, left, and Richard Marin, President and CEO of New York Wheel LLC. are pictured aboard the luxury boat Zephyr during a tour of Sandy-ravaged New York shorelines, as they highlight efforts to protect their North shore projects on Staten Island.


By Kiawana Rich
August 07, 2013

For those looking to visit the New York Wheel and Empire Outlets when they open on Staten Island's North Shore in 2016, water taxis may be a way to get there from Manhattan.

That's according to Helena Durst, president of New York Water Taxi/Circle Line. Nothing is definite yet, said Ms. Durst, but she added her company has been in talks about facilitating such services with project developers Rich Marin, president/CEO of New York Wheel LLC, and Win Wharton, a representative of Empire Outlets and BFC Partners.

Ms. Durst made her remarks during a New York Harbor boat tour in Manhattan on Tuesday, part of series of tours designed to address how top city real estate and development professionals would adapt projects such as the New York Wheel and Empire Outlets to withstand high-impact storms.

Ms. Durst said often visitors to the city make their transportation plans six months in advance. While many, "can always choose the Staten Island Ferry, I think the New York Water Taxi can always provide an additional and beneficial input to the transportation options."

If such a plan goes forward, it would be in place by 2016 -- the same time the site is scheduled to open. She said while the taxis are unable to use current ferryboat docks, the company would be able to use of other docks in the area. Currently, she said, 10 vessels would be available to serve the new site, and the company may consider expansion plans depending on the demand for the service.