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Recreational
Vessel Traffic on New York State Canals
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Increased
3.4 Percent in 2018
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More Boats
on the Water after Tolls Waived on System for
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Second Consecutive
Year; Hire Boats Show Big Increase
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Albany,
NY – October 2018 / Newsmaker Alert / The New
York State Canal Corporation announces that motorized pleasure boat
traffic on the state Canal System increased 3.4 percent over last year
as more boaters took advantage of tolls being waived on the system for
the second consecutive year.
Motorized
pleasure boats—the most-common vessels on the canals—were recorded traveling
through Canal System locks and lift bridges 71,463 times during the 2018
navigation season that began May 15 and ended Oct. 10, compared to 68,928
lockings in 2017. Lockings are up 9 percent compared to the same period
in 2016, the last year tolls were imposed, when 65,281 recreational vessels
locked through.
“We
are thrilled that more people are experiencing New York’s canals and all
they have to offer,” said Brian U. Stratton, Canal Corporation director.
“With 524 miles of waterways to explore, our Canal System provides unparalleled
recreational opportunities and is becoming a magnet for tourism.”
The
figures account for each time a boat goes through a lock or under a lift
bridge, not the actual number of boats. If a boat travels through several
locks, it would be counted as locking through each time. The numbers also
do not account for boaters who only travel locally and do not go through
a lock. A large percentage of boating traffic falls into this category.
New
York waived tolls for recreational vessels in 2017 to celebrate the Erie
Canal bicentennial and did so again this year to mark the 100th anniversary
of the Barge Canal, now known as the New York State Canal System. It includes
the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca canals.
A decision
on tolls for 2019 will be made by the end of the year. In the past, the
Canal Corporation has charged $25-$100 for a season pass; the exact amount
depends on the size of the vessel.
The
Canal System also saw a 21 percent increase in hire boats leased by private
companies for three to seven nights, so vacationers can leisurely explore
the canal corridor. A hire boat on display this year at the new Exposition
Center at the Great New York State Fair drew thousands of visitors.
“There
is no better way to spend free time than boating in upstate New York, and
some of the best boating is on the historic New York State Canal System,”
said Gabe Capobianchi, Empire State Marine Trades Association president.
“It’s great to see recreational use of the system on the rise and it’s
an indication that more people are discovering the joys of boating and
the wonderful resource that the Canal System is to New York State.”
About
the New York State Canal Corporation
New
York’s canal system includes four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain,
Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca. Spanning 524 miles, the waterway links the Hudson
River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain. The canals
form the backbone of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and connect
hundreds of unique and historic communities. In 2018, New York is celebrating
the bicentennial of the start of the Erie Canal’s construction. For more
information on the Canal System, visit www.canals.ny.gov.
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Canals on Facebook at NYS
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Canals on Twitter at @NYSCanalCorp
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Contact:
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Relations
914-390-8192 |