NEW YORK CITY-In an effort to reconnect the street grid to the waterfront, the city has made a big splash. In just over a year, the East River Ferry has seen one million riders – more than double the initial projection of 409,000 people after the program launched in 2011.

The service—operated by BillyBey Ferry Co. under NY Waterway through a contract with the New York City Economic Development Corp.—makes seven regular stops along the East River, which will include links to new multifamily developments at Hunter’s Point South in Long Island City and Schaefer Landing at South Williamsburg. The ferry will also make stops at East 34th Street, India Street in Greenpoint, North Fifth and North Sixth Streets in North Williamsburg, Wall Street at Pier 11 and Brooklyn Bridge Park/DUMBO.

The program was launched as part of the Bloomberg administration’s Waterfront Vision and Enhancement Strategy, or WAVES, which was designed to promote sustainable economic development along the waterfront and enhance mobility around the harbor. And the impact on commercial real estate has been significant.