I live at the north tip of Staten Island, near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and up the hill, in The Wisteria, 141 St Marks Place, a 1929 building in historic St. George.
I live at the north tip of Staten Island, near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and up the hill, in The Wisteria, 141 St Marks Place, a 1929 building in historic St. George.
B: Walking or biking, subway, ferry, and bus
C: From the Ferry Terminal in Staten Island
Presently (while there is construction at the Manhattan Ferry Terminal area) you cannot take cars or motorcycles on the Staten Island Ferry.
You can take unmotorized bicycles on all ferries. In this case go to B.
Else find the Staten Island Expressway, also known as I-278, from New Jersey on the east or Brooklyn on the west. In either case, take the Staten Island exit nearest to the Verrazano Bridge, ‘Bay Street’.
If coming from Brooklyn, follow the exit ramp onto the street, then continue for 2 blocks to a T-junction and traffic light. If coming from New Jersey, turn left at the light at the end of the exit loop, go under the freeway, then continue for 2 blocks to a T-junction and traffic light.
In either case, turn left here onto Bay Street.
On Bay Street you are going around Staten Island anti-clockwise, i.e., the water is on your right.
Follow Bay Street for 2.7 miles from the T-junction (2.8 miles from the exit from the Expressway) to where it heads you directly into the Ferry Terminal. It looks like this:
Immediately before entering the Ferry Terminal, turn left at a traffic light, and you are on the continuation of Bay Street, which is Richmond Terrace.
Find the taxi-stand for yellow New York City taxis.
They look like this.
When you get to the head of the line, tell the dispatcher that you are going to Staten Island.
You will pay what is on the meter plus the toll plus a tip.
The meter should look like this -- particularly the ‘RATE 1’ on the right, which means ‘Fare is entirely within New York City‘.
The toll is $11 for crossing the Verrazano Bridge (pay only one way).
The tip should be about 15% of the fare (if you are satisfied).
The total should be a little less than $100.
If the driver does not know the way, say ‘Cross the Verrazano Bridge and then I'll guide you’.
Inside your terminal look for the AirTrain sign. This is a driverless elevated train.
Take the Howard Beach train to its terminal at Howard Beach. No charge to board the AirTrain.
When you reach Howard Beach, walk out to the AirTrain lobby. This area is fenced by turnstiles, and features red-coated helpers and Metrocard machines.
Use U.S. cash or a credit card to buy a Pay-Per-Ride (Regular) MetroCard for at least $7.25. You will need $5 to pay for the AirTrain and $2.25 to pay for a subway ride and bus.
Buy a Metrocard for more money if you want extra rides on the subway and the buses while you are in town. Ask for help if you need it. Ask for a subway map.
Swipe your Metrocard at the turnstiles on the left toward the Manhattan A train.
Go down to the platform by the elevator or the escalator, and take the first train (A) that comes. The train runs an elevated route and then a long subway route.
Get off the train at Jay Street - MetroTech.
Caution: This station was formerly called ‘Jay Street - Borough Hall’, so beware old maps.
At Jay Street - MetroTech walk to the middle of the train and take the steps up marked with a black-on-yellow R.
Follow the black-on-yellow R transfer signs down to the R platform.
Take any train on the platform marked Manhattan & Queens R two stops to Whitehall St - South Ferry.
At Whitehall St - South Ferry walk to the back of the train and take the steps up marked South Ferry / Whitehall St, climb one stairs, two escalators, and exit in front of the doors of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.
Enter the Ferry Terminal. Use the escalator or elevator. Take the ferry. See B.
Note on bicycles: You can take unmotorized bicycles on the subway and the ferry, but not on the bus. You can also take foldable bicycles on the bus.
Find the Staten Island Ferry Terminal at the southern tip of Manhattan (‘South Ferry’ or ‘Battery Park’).
The 1 subway to South Ferry. Take the exit at the end of the line, come up two escalators, and exit at the doors of the Ferry Terminal.
The R subway to Whitehall St - South Ferry. Take the exit at the downtown end of the train marked South Ferry / Whitehall St, climb one stairs, two escalators, and exit in front of the doors of the Ferry Terminal.
The 4 or 5 subway to Bowling Green. Take the exit (there is only one on each platform). Now walk two blocks downtown, i.e., south, to the Ferry Terminal. (Ask if you are unsure of the direction.)
Take the M5, M15, or M20 bus to the last stop at South Ferry.
The Ferry Terminal is within a block of the last stop - the actual last stop is being moved around during the reconstruction of the plaza in front of the Ferry Terminal.
For any of these, buy a Metrocard at any subway station or some newsstands.
The ferry schedule is at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/siferrysched07.pdf, or call the City of New York, within New York City call 311, or outside New York City call +1-212-639-9675.
In general the ferry runs twice an hour, on the hour and the half hour; in rush hours more often; late nights and weekend evenings once an hour on the half hour.
The ferry crossing takes about 20 minutes. Admire the view.
Now go to C: From the Ferry Terminal in Staten Island.
On the Staten Island side, this is where you want to get to.
By taxi (short ride), by bus (short ride), by bicycle (5 minutes), or by walking (15 minutes)...
D: From the Ferry Terminal by taxi
E: From the Ferry Terminal by bus
F: From the Ferry Terminal by bicycle
G: From the Ferry Terminal by walking
At the Ferry Terminal on the Staten Island side, get off on the upper deck, and follow the crowd.
You will walk either left or right around the central waiting room, and then find yourself in a long hall with stairs down to trains and ramps up to buses.
Turn right along the lobby and through the doors...
Down the stairs...
Join the taxi line at the blue taxi dispatcher’s booth.
Tell the dispatcher your destination - ‘141 St Marks Place’.
The dispatcher will quote you a price - probably $5.
Get in the next available taxi.
For a picture of my building, go to I: From St Marks Place at Hamilton Avenue.
If you are happy with the taxi ride, pay the fare plus a 20% tip.
On the Staten Island side, this is where you want to get to (left red arrow) via the S42 or the S52 bus on Ramp D (right red arrow).
At the Ferry Terminal on the Staten Island side, get off on the upper deck, and follow the crowd.
You will walk either left or right around the central waiting room, and then find yourself in a long hall with stairs down to trains and ramps up to buses.
Along one side of this hall are ramps sloping up. These lead to bus platforms.
Find Bus Ramp D, leading to the S42 and S52 bus.
Climb Ramp D and walk along the Bus Platform.
Wait for the S42 or the S52 bus bus at the middle of the Bus Platform. Take it when it comes.
One or both buses meet every ferry except between 1:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. on weekdays and between midnight and 5 a.m. on weekends.
Pay with your Metrocard (the transfer will be free if you already took a subway or bus on the other side).
Counting the Ferry terminal as the first stop, get off at the 8th stop, at the corner of St Marks Place and Nicholas Street. The bus stops in front of my door.
Beware!
Another way to find the right stop:
The bus first winds around many corners to the top of the hill, then runs along St Marks Place. After 3 blocks, it passes two 20-story Castleton Tower apartment buildings on the right. Get off at the next stop.
For a picture of the Castleton Tower apartment buildings, go to I: From St Marks Place at Hamilton Avenue.
Wheel your bicycle off the ferry on the lower level.
Ride up the ramp to the street (Richmond Terrace).
Go to H: From Richmond Terrace near the Ferry Terminal.
At the Ferry Terminal on the Staten Island side, get off on the upper deck, and follow the crowd.
You will walk either left or right around the central waiting room, and then find yourself in a long hall with stairs down to trains and ramps up to buses.
Look for stairs and an elevator going up to the street, Richmond Terrace, opposite you or slightly to the right.
Go up these stairs or elevator.
Walk along the ramp...
... And out to the street (Richmond Terrace).
Now go to H: From Richmond Terrace near the Ferry Terminal.
You are on Richmond Terrace near the Ferry Terminal, with the harbor on your right.
Take the third left, second traffic light, past the police precinct on the left and the ballpark on the right, Hamilton Avenue.
Walk to the top of the hill (3 blocks) to the stop sign.
This is St Marks Place. Turn right.
Go one block past two 20-story Castleton Tower apartment buildings on the right. My building is the smaller building beyond them.
Continue to the intersection of St Marks Place and Nicholas Street.
My building is the old 5-story apartment building on the right.
I am in 5-F (fifth floor).
Nicholas Zvegintzov
141 Saint Marks Place, Suite 5F
Staten Island NY 10301 USA
telephone +1-718-816-5522
mailto: zvegint@hotmail.com
http://www.maint.com