EDGEWATER - With 83 percent of Edgewater residents in a Port Authority survey stating that they would take the ferry to New York City if such a service was offered, Edgewater Mayor Bryan Christiansen today said that the results were “a mandate” for the Mayor and Council to move “full speed ahead” for ferry service, “as soon as possible”.

The final report on the Edgewater/Fort Lee Ferry Survey, which was conducted by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was received by government officials in Edgewater and Fort Lee earlier this week. More than 1100 Edgewater residents had returned the survey, a total of 23 percent of those mailed. “This is an amazing response”, Mayor Christiansen said at a press conference this morning. “It shows just how important bringing ferry service between Edgewater and New York City is for borough residents.”

The survey also asked what form of ferry landing site access respondents preferred. The vast majority supported access only for pedestrians, bicyclists, and those using a free shuttle bus. 75% of Edgewater respondents said they would take the ferry even if there were no passenger car parking available.

Christiansen maintains that ferry service will actually ease traffic problems currently facing the borough, rather than exacerbate them: “By keeping out parking, we will keep out the traffic”. He also felt that ferry service would have “an incredible effect on property values in town and that makes ferry service a winner, not just for commuters, not just for motorists but for everyone.”

In neighboring Fort Lee, Mayor Jack Alter observed, “the over two thousand respondents from Fort Lee overwhelmingly said that they would use an Edgewater or Fort Lee ferry to midtown or downtown New York.” Alter further noted that the results confirmed what the Fort Lee government has believed: that the people of Fort Lee overwhelmingly support ferry service as an additional means of transportation to New York City.

“What is gratifying was that the people of Edgewater also overwhelmingly supported ferry service”, Alter said. He concurred with Edgewater’s mayor regarding traffic, feeling that “there is an additional bonus of at least taking some cars off the road.” Alter stated that Fort Lee plans to provide free shuttle bus service for its residents to the ferry, working through Fort Lee’s Parking Authority, if ferry plans actually come to fruition. “The shuttle service would greatly reduce or eliminate entirely the need for parking at the ferry site”, Alter said.

Alter also stressed the availability of federal funds to implement ferry service if both municipalities work together. “There are some administrative details that obviously will be needed to be worked out”, he said, “but if we all get on the same page and work as one - we can get the job done.”