Patrons of the popular Queen City Bike Ferry will see some changes when the service returns for its second season, including the creation of a dedicated landing at Buffalo's Outer Harbor.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation voted on Monday to hire Pinto Construction for a capital project which includes the replacement of docks on Outer Harbor land owned by the New York Poswer Authority. In addition to a new dedicated landing, plans include a rest area, a paved pathway, new signage and bicycle racks.
In its debut season, the Queen City Bike Ferry welcomed more than 50,000 people who stepped aboard at Canalside and used the service to access the Outer Harbor.
"It opens up the Outer Harbor," said ECHDC president Thomas Dee of the project. "We said when we did Ohio Street, that was our first link and connection to the Outer Harbor. Now here is our second."
The project will cost an estimated $825,000 and will be funded with dollars from NYPA's recent Niagara Power Project relicensing agreements.
Work is scheduled to begin in February, with completion scheduled by May 14.