Monday, September 22, 2014

Queens Public Transit Committee Seeks Funding For Lower Manhattan-Rockaway Ferry



Lower Manhattan, Sept. 22, 2014 - A rally was held tonight as residents of southern Queens invaded  Lower Manhattan in an effort to remind people that if enough support isn’t generated to save the ferry from the Rockaways to Manhattan, the service will end, making the trip by subway or express bus a longer trip and much less enjoyable.

The mission statement of the Queens Public Transit Committee is to improve all transportation options for Queens and the Pier 11 in Manhattan to Rockaway Peninsula is no exception. With Mayor deBlasio eliminating funding for the ferry link, residents of southern Queens are furious and have taken to the streets. The Belle Harbor Property Owners Association is also involved as they seek to protect and enhance the quality of life in their community. The Ferry is the common thread that binds both organizations.

Queens Public Transit Committee Chairman Phillip McManus has been fighting for keeping the ferry going but it’s been an uphill fight. To get the attention of Lower Manhattan, he’s organized a walking rally to let people know about it. He said, “We’ll arrive on the ferry at about 5:15 pm at Pier 11 and hold a press conference under the FDR near Wall Street. We will collect names and contact information to organize the passengers.  We will also have speeches and a photo opportunity. We’re following up on a rally we had on the steps of City Hall a couple of months ago as part of a process to educate the public about the funding cutoff.”

The plan was to march through areas such as Water Street and Stone Street which is where many people congregate so they can get the word about the ferry service discontinuance.

Through their past efforts, they accumulated an array of political figures dedicated to keeping the ferry going. Among them is Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. She said in a letter to Mayor deBlasio that, “…The Rockaway Ferry is a necessity for the Rockaway Peninsula and vital to its resiliency plans. Since the inception of the Rockaway Ferry in 2012, residents have come to view it as a primary means of transportation into Manhattan.”

New York State Assemblyman Philip Goldfeder has been a long-time backer of improving transportation options in southern Queens as healthier transportation options means greater economic opportunity.

Support for the ferry isn’t limited to Queens but to Brooklyn as well. City Councilman Vincent Gentile recently said at the June 11 rally on the steps of City Hall, “Other areas in the country would kill for a waterfront like we have here in New York. I want to emphasize the stopover in Brooklyn on the way to the Rockaways. One ride on the ferry and you’re hooked as opposed to riding the subway. If people knew if they could get to Manhattan and back easily with a ferry, they’d use it.”
The walking rally headed south to the Staten Island Ferry, the Statue of Liberty Ferry and walk north on Broadway to Wall Street and loop back to the ferry to Queens while giving out posters, flyers and asking people to sign petitions. 

Before hopping on to the 7:45 pm ferry back to the Rockaways, Phil McManus showed optimism and said, “The Queens Public Transit Committee supports faster transportation including the Queens Rockaway Ferry.  We refuse to be second class citizens in a city where everyone else’s concerns seem to come first.”

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Passing of our friend and mentor, John Rozankowski

Dear Friends,  

It is with great shock and sadness that I must inform you that our Friend and Mentor John Rozankowski has died of natural causes.

God have Mercy on his Soul.

We're going to miss you, John. A tremendous loss.  Thank you for helping the Rockaways, Queens and New York City with your transportation advocacy.

John lived in the Bronx and would take the train to help us. He was a good man.

Our sincerest condolences to his family.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Our Rally for Q 52 Bus Extension to Far Rockaway is on Saturday September 20, at Beach 67 Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard at 11 am.

Queens Public Transit Committee Press Release

Release date: September 8, 2014

Media contacts: 

Philip McManus, Chairman
Queens Public Transit Committee

Location/Date: Saturday, September 20, 2014 at Beach 67 Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard

Time: 11 AM.



We are gaining influence in Queens.Please cover this very important meeting as this is a great opportunity to show how we network and unite with other communities and groups. 


Our 'Rally for Q52 Bus Extension to Far Rockaway' is on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at Beach 67 Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard at 11am. 

Our opinion is that 2 1/2 hours is way too long to get around Queens using mass transit.  It's a waste of time, money and destroys opportunities with unnecessary transfers and road delays. 

We advocate the extension of bus routes across Queens and the Q52 Limited Bus to Far Rockaway as a example of how we want to connect buses to more ferry service as faster transportation (all modes) which saves time and makes money. More money creates jobs and opportunities.
Currently, the Q 52 doesn't connect to the Ferry at this time but we need another Ferry stop in Far Rockaway that would connect with this bus. The Q22, Q35, Q53 and QM16, Q113 and the Q114 should all connect to the Ferry.

We are promoting several petitions and here's a list:


Feel free to contact me for further information with this information below.

Philip McManus, Chairman