RHINEBECK >> The town wants the owner of a proposed Hudson River water taxi service to build a dock if the vessel is given permission to tie up in the waterfront hamlet of Rhinecliff.
Riverport Water Taxi owner Jeff Farber asked to use the existing dock near the Rhinecliff train station, but the Town Board told him at its Tuesday meeting that he will need to put in his own.
Farber said the ferry, a 22-foot pontoon boat, would “go from Kingston over to Rhinecliff, pick up passengers that are discharged from the Amtrak train and bring them back to Kingston.”
In Kingston, Farber said, he has permission to use a Rondout Creek dock owned by the Hudson River Maritime Museum.
Farber said he does not expect the water taxi service to be “a big money maker.”
“I would like to use the water taxi as an entree to my romantic cruises on the Hudson and for other activities on the waterfront,” he said. “There’s a lot going on in Kingston, and the water taxi would tie it together.”
Farber said he hopes to begin Friday-through-Sunday taxi service on June 19.
Rhinebeck Town Board member Joseph Gelb said the existing dock in Rhinecliff is in poor condition.
“The question is the cost of repair,” he said. “I’ve been told $5,000.”
Councilman Bruce Washburn said there should be a way to use that dock for at least one season before it needs to be repaired or replaced.
“The trusses are shot … [but] they can get through this year,” he said.
Washburn said the dock was constructed when a previous water taxi service was attempted, and he encouraged town officials to help Farber with his business.
“I’m all for it,” he said.
