The city promises that Greenpoint ferry service is coming back this morning, hours after the G train’s Queens tunnel shutdown.
India Street pier owner RedSky Capital waited for months to begin work on the pier that collapsed into the East River in February, but, according to the city on Friday night, the repairs wrapped up just in time to restore service as the Newtown Creek subway tube closed for five weeks so crews could fix Hurricane Sandy damage.
“We thank our passengers for their patience as the pier’s owner rebuilt the ferry landing on India Street to rigorous safety standards,” said Kyle Kimball, president of the city’s Economic Development Corporation, which is charged with overseeing ferry operations. “We are grateful to be able to bring ferry service back to the Greenpoint neighborhood to support riders during the G train suspension.”
The East River Ferry had been without the India Street dock since Feb. 13, when the floating part of the pier pulled free of its moorings, plunging the connecting gangway into the river moments after commuters crossed it. The ferry connects Brooklyn Bridge Park, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Queens, and parts of Manhattan.
At the time of the near-catastrophe, the ferry operator Billybey said it regularly inspects the parts of the pier that are above the water, but that no one had been looking below the surface of the river. The Economic Development Corporation refused to turn over copies of the inspection records, as did Billybey.
RedSky Capital has built a new landing with heftier and sturdier pilings, according to a spokesman for the pro-business agency, who insisted the new dock is safe.
RedSky Capital has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
The G train will be out of service between the Nassau Avenue station in Greenpoint and Queens from July 26 until Sept. 5.
The taxi app Uber announced on Friday that it would offer free rides — one per person — between the closed stations until Aug. 31.
