Possible high speed ferry from Stamford to Manhattan

STAMFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- If you commute to NYC from Stamford you can take the train, bus or drive yourself in. But what about getting to Manhattan on a high speed ferry? That's something the Stamford mayor is considering.

People living in Stamford likely commute on the train or spend a lot of time sitting in traffic on I-95 but what if you could avoid the crowded trains and roads by hopping on a ferry to and from New York?

"Sometimes people don't like taking the train or have the gas money to get there so it could be a cheaper way to get back and forth and actually have a nice view along the way," Anthony Greenidge-Copprue, of Stamford said.

"If we can come up with a way of traveling across Long Island Sound, I think it's going to be a big win for the businesses and those that work in Stamford," Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia said.

The state and federal governments are funding a study to see whether building a ferry terminal in Stamford would be feasible.

"Because there are other terminals being built in other spots along Long Island and there are also boats being built for ferry service, so if we don't have to pay to purchase ferry boats, and all we need to do is provide them a facility to land them, we could be attracting that alternative mode of transportation," Mayor Pavia said.

The ferry terminal would go in a part of Stamford that is really booming. Many businesses have recently announced they're moving there so many folks tell News 8 now would be the time to build a high speed ferry to and from Manhattan.

The mayor told News 8 that once the ferry enters the Sound, it would take about 30 minutes to get to lower Manhattan.

"If it goes downtown to Wall Street, that would definitely make the commute an easier commute," Mitchell Schepps, of Stamford said.

"I think I'll stick to the train," Clarence Gamble, of Stamford said. "I'm more familiar with the train."

"It's coming, it's just a question of when it will be feasible to do it, how many people buy into it, how the costs are allocated, how we make it competitive with rail, how we make it competitive with cars," Mayor Pavia said.