Ginsburg Plan (response to link posted by TJE)

In this article, Ginsburg states that creating an expansive ferry transportation system in the Hudson River Valley would be extremely beneficial for the area. An architect and founder of a development company, he could not be any more correct. The ferry system installed in Hudson County, New Jersey, helped fix up Hoboken, Jersey City, and other cities in the area, turning them from run-down inner city ghettos into trendy neighborhoods appealing to young commuters. The short ferry ride is far more convenient for these commuters than a drive into the city.
Spitzer should seek to develop a ferry system similar to the one Ginsburg is calling for. As Ginsburg writes, it would help in transforming these cities from their industrial past. It would help expand the tourist industry incredibly. People could travel up and down the river, seeing New York City, West Point, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library, and numerous other sites, all in one easy trip. This would be far more convenient for tourists than driving up Route 87 and making the same trip.
A complex ferry system would also help raise property values in the cities along the Hudson, as a short, cheap commute to the city would attract many people who now crowd inside the city and inner suburbs. To give evidence of the affect of a ferry system, one can look at Atlantic Highlands Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Once a run down, lower-middle class beach town, Atlantic Highlands experienced an incredible growth shortly after building its ferry system, which allows commuters to reach New York City in about 45 minutes. In 2000, the average residential assessment for the borough was $167,873. This figure jumped to $347,411 in 2004. (www.app.com/legacy/taxmap)
By looking at the success of projects such as the Highlands Ferry, it is evident that a complex ferry system would greatly benefit the Hudson River Valley. Not only would it raise property values and allow workers to commute from further distances, but it would ease traffic and environmental damage by encouraging mass transit. If Spitzer truly seeks to help rebuild the area, an expansive ferry system would be an immense step forward.