Did you know that when ferry lines were active and numerous in New York City, there was an enclosed, year-round easily accessible ferry terminal - pictured above - on the site of the MTS at 92nd and York Avenue. This terminal connected Astoria, Queens and Long Island with Manhattan. In 1936 Robert Moses forced the destruction of the terminal to eliminate the ferry - reportedly to force riders to drive to Manhattan on his newly built Tri-Borough Bridge - which meant paying a toll which was much higher than the ferry fare!
It is still a perfect site for a new NYCFerry "northern" hub and terminal!
It is still a perfect site for a new NYCFerry "northern" hub and terminal!
Please click on the other tabs (the horizontal lines above if you are viewing on a mobile device) for more information.
July 11, 2018 - MTSRepurpose agrees with Council Members Mark Gjonaj, Ritchie Torres, Ruben Diaz, Sr., Francisco Moya and others regarding NYC Council Bill #1001-2018 for ferry service to Throggs Neck and City Island. Let's add @NYCFerry landings to the Bronx and Queens! See the Bronx Times Reporter Article here: https://bit.ly/2m784Ax
THANK YOU SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER FOR YOUR LETTER TO MAYOR BILL de BLASIO SUPPORTING THE MTS REPURPOSE STUDY!!
Download a copy of the letter here:
July 11, 2018 - MTSRepurpose agrees with Council Members Mark Gjonaj, Ritchie Torres, Ruben Diaz, Sr., Francisco Moya and others regarding NYC Council Bill #1001-2018 for ferry service to Throggs Neck and City Island. Let's add @NYCFerry landings to the Bronx and Queens! See the Bronx Times Reporter Article here: https://bit.ly/2m784Ax
THANK YOU SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER FOR YOUR LETTER TO MAYOR BILL de BLASIO SUPPORTING THE MTS REPURPOSE STUDY!!
Download a copy of the letter here:

letter_to_mayor_re_mts_ferry.pdf | |
File Size: | 42 kb |
File Type: |
Thank you Manhattan Community Board 8 for your February 26, 2018 resolution in support of the proposed feasibility study!!
Download a copy of the resolution here:
Download a copy of the resolution here:

02.26.2018_repurposing_of_the_east_91st_street_marine_transfer_station_call_for_feasibility_study_reso.pdf | |
File Size: | 40 kb |
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In his 2018 State of the District Address, Council Representative Ben Kallos said he supports the #MTS REPURPOSE: https://benkallos.com/stateofthedistrict/2018
and again stated his support in his September 2018 Town Hall (at 2.58.08): https://youtu.be/TcdXgKHmZLg
and again stated his support in his September 2018 Town Hall (at 2.58.08): https://youtu.be/TcdXgKHmZLg
THE MTS RE-PURPOSE PROPOSAL:
We propose the following immediate and comprehensive study by the NYCEDC, NYCDoT, NYCIBO and other appropriate city agencies and officials regarding the opportunities, benefits and cost savings to ALL of NYC to consider:
Long term, forward thinking, and fiscally responsible planning for the best interest of ALL New Yorkers - not politics - should be the true drivers for the use of the MTS.
Let’s be smart and learn from the lessons of NYC’s past where big decisions were made without proper study - decisions which negatively impacted the city and local communities, and which were later regretted.
Sticking with an old plan without a serious, in-depth review of these new alternatives WILL NOT provide all New Yorkers with the highest and best possible use of this facility. We call upon public officials, city agencies and others to agree to agree to this in-depth study to consider these progressive and forward thinking proposals and to pause the current plans to operate the facility as a waterfront waste transfer station pending the outcome of the study.
Let’s ensure that this study takes place!!
MTSREPURPOSE - IT'S A BETTER WAY FORWARD!
THIS FACILITY CAN SERVE COMMUNITIES FROM MANY PARTS OF THE CITY - EVERY DAY - ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSIT! And using the MTS as a northern NYCFerry hub and terminal could actually generate NEW revenue for NYC instead of being a drain on its financial resources.
WHILE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT REASONS AND GOOD ARGUMENTS FOR A 91st STREET MTS WASTE TRANSFER STATION UNDER THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION'S OLD 2006 PLAN, NYC'S GOALS HAVE CHANGED IN SCOPE AND DIRECTION AND SO HAS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2006 PLAN.
It will be increasingly expensive to operate the MTS as a waste transfer station and it is simply no longer necessary: according to the NYC Department of Sanitation the MTS is significantly underutilized handling 63 trucks per day at peak operating days and 38 trucks per day at low operating days…it was designed to handle 30 trucks per hour. That's means it will operate at less than 10% of it's capacity!
https://youtu.be/nbQrAWaY_AE (see Former Commissioner Garcia's comments at 1:36:20)
See also her comments here:
https://patch.com/new-york/upper-east-side-nyc/city-downsizes-plan-ues-marine-transfer-station
According to NYC’s own Independent Budget Office (IBO), the cost of operating the MTS as a waste transfer station will continue to escalate disproportionately to any benefit from its use in this manner. The MTS's unnecessarily high anticipated operating costs of approximately $130/ton is significantly higher than the current cost of waste disposal of approximately $90/ton AND the current $50 million in additional capital costs could also be reduced.
In an October 2014 report, updated in March, 2017, the IBO reported that the cost of operating the MTS as a waste transfer station continues to increase and may be several hundreds of million dollars over a short period of time.
(http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/waste-export-costs-to-rise-as-remaining-marine-transfer-stations-open-march-2017.pdf)
ALSO, NYC now has an important and forward-looking goal of eliminating the sending of waste to landfills by 2030 under the progressive "Zero Waste" Plan. This facility will be outdated approximately 11 years from its opening date giving it an "average life" of about 5 1/2 years!
In an August, 2017 report (http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/ten-years-after-assessing-progress-on-the-citys-solid-waste-management-plan-2017.pdf) the IBO noted that the useful life of this facility as a waste transfer station may be as short as 11 years. This is because under NYC’s Zero Waste plan the city will recycle waste rather than send it to landfills by 2030. Also the construction of this MTS was originally part of the prior administration's 2006 Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) which has now significantly changed in scope and direction.
Here is a sample of what some current and former elected officials have said about this:
http://benkallos.com/press-release/statement-good-money-after-bad-solid-waste-response-ibo-report
http://benkallos.com/press-release/price-soars-two-thirds-billion-dollars-over-20-years-trash-disposal-91st-street-marine
Borough President Gale Brewer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbJXNK4dLAw
“We don’t need this facility because we really can recycle"
"Billions of dollars...for no reason at all"
"This facility is going to be outdated the minute that it is conceived"
==============================================================================================================
Sources:
http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/2014e91stwtsLetter.pdf
http://nypost.com/2014/11/04/ues-trash-transfer-station-would-triple-citys-costs-study/
http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/ten-years-after-assessing-progress-on-the-citys-solid-waste-management-plan-2017.pdf
http://www1.nyc.gov/html/onenyc/visions/sustainability/goal-2-sustain.html
http://www1.nyc.gov/site/sustainability/initiatives/zero-waste.page
http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/zerowaste/residents.shtml
We propose the following immediate and comprehensive study by the NYCEDC, NYCDoT, NYCIBO and other appropriate city agencies and officials regarding the opportunities, benefits and cost savings to ALL of NYC to consider:
- A repurposed 91st St. MTS as a year-round, enclosed, fully ADA compliant "northern" ferry hub and terminal directly accessible by public transit and emergency vehicles which will help ensure the success of the NYCFerry and its expansion to new landings - especially those in communities in the Bronx and Queens now under-served by public transit (as well as an unsubsidized water shuttle to LaGuardia Airport);
- A review of the NYCFerry subsidies and the consideration of a surge pricing mechanism and lower subsidy for high "traffic" holidays and weekends to "non-commuting" destinations (i.e. pleasure trips) to help "justify" the subsidies for exiting and new routes to transit deserts in underserved communities in Northern Queens and the South Bronx;
- A transfer of the NYCFerry service to the NYC Department of Transportation which has the expertise to run a ferry service; and
- The inclusion of an FDNY Marine Station pier; and/or
- The inclusion of an NYPD Harbor Unit pier.
Long term, forward thinking, and fiscally responsible planning for the best interest of ALL New Yorkers - not politics - should be the true drivers for the use of the MTS.
Let’s be smart and learn from the lessons of NYC’s past where big decisions were made without proper study - decisions which negatively impacted the city and local communities, and which were later regretted.
Sticking with an old plan without a serious, in-depth review of these new alternatives WILL NOT provide all New Yorkers with the highest and best possible use of this facility. We call upon public officials, city agencies and others to agree to agree to this in-depth study to consider these progressive and forward thinking proposals and to pause the current plans to operate the facility as a waterfront waste transfer station pending the outcome of the study.
Let’s ensure that this study takes place!!
MTSREPURPOSE - IT'S A BETTER WAY FORWARD!
THIS FACILITY CAN SERVE COMMUNITIES FROM MANY PARTS OF THE CITY - EVERY DAY - ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSIT! And using the MTS as a northern NYCFerry hub and terminal could actually generate NEW revenue for NYC instead of being a drain on its financial resources.
WHILE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT REASONS AND GOOD ARGUMENTS FOR A 91st STREET MTS WASTE TRANSFER STATION UNDER THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION'S OLD 2006 PLAN, NYC'S GOALS HAVE CHANGED IN SCOPE AND DIRECTION AND SO HAS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2006 PLAN.
It will be increasingly expensive to operate the MTS as a waste transfer station and it is simply no longer necessary: according to the NYC Department of Sanitation the MTS is significantly underutilized handling 63 trucks per day at peak operating days and 38 trucks per day at low operating days…it was designed to handle 30 trucks per hour. That's means it will operate at less than 10% of it's capacity!
https://youtu.be/nbQrAWaY_AE (see Former Commissioner Garcia's comments at 1:36:20)
See also her comments here:
https://patch.com/new-york/upper-east-side-nyc/city-downsizes-plan-ues-marine-transfer-station
According to NYC’s own Independent Budget Office (IBO), the cost of operating the MTS as a waste transfer station will continue to escalate disproportionately to any benefit from its use in this manner. The MTS's unnecessarily high anticipated operating costs of approximately $130/ton is significantly higher than the current cost of waste disposal of approximately $90/ton AND the current $50 million in additional capital costs could also be reduced.
In an October 2014 report, updated in March, 2017, the IBO reported that the cost of operating the MTS as a waste transfer station continues to increase and may be several hundreds of million dollars over a short period of time.
(http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/waste-export-costs-to-rise-as-remaining-marine-transfer-stations-open-march-2017.pdf)
ALSO, NYC now has an important and forward-looking goal of eliminating the sending of waste to landfills by 2030 under the progressive "Zero Waste" Plan. This facility will be outdated approximately 11 years from its opening date giving it an "average life" of about 5 1/2 years!
In an August, 2017 report (http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/ten-years-after-assessing-progress-on-the-citys-solid-waste-management-plan-2017.pdf) the IBO noted that the useful life of this facility as a waste transfer station may be as short as 11 years. This is because under NYC’s Zero Waste plan the city will recycle waste rather than send it to landfills by 2030. Also the construction of this MTS was originally part of the prior administration's 2006 Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) which has now significantly changed in scope and direction.
Here is a sample of what some current and former elected officials have said about this:
http://benkallos.com/press-release/statement-good-money-after-bad-solid-waste-response-ibo-report
http://benkallos.com/press-release/price-soars-two-thirds-billion-dollars-over-20-years-trash-disposal-91st-street-marine
Borough President Gale Brewer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbJXNK4dLAw
“We don’t need this facility because we really can recycle"
"Billions of dollars...for no reason at all"
"This facility is going to be outdated the minute that it is conceived"
==============================================================================================================
Sources:
http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/2014e91stwtsLetter.pdf
http://nypost.com/2014/11/04/ues-trash-transfer-station-would-triple-citys-costs-study/
http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/ten-years-after-assessing-progress-on-the-citys-solid-waste-management-plan-2017.pdf
http://www1.nyc.gov/html/onenyc/visions/sustainability/goal-2-sustain.html
http://www1.nyc.gov/site/sustainability/initiatives/zero-waste.page
http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/zerowaste/residents.shtml