Ferry rides on New York City’s waterways are the latest public transportation system to join the city’s subway and buses, with the NYC Ferry system—which now connects four of the five boroughs—launching in 2017. (Some 6.3 million people turned to the ferries for their travels in 2019.) The ferry system currently has six routes serving neighborhoods like lower Manhattan, the Rockaways, and the Lower East Side; in the next few years, several new routes and stops will be added to the service.
It’s one of the more pleasant ways to get around the city: The mini-voyages on the East River and throughout New York Harbor offer sprawling cityscape views and are a great way for out-of-towners to take in the boroughs without spending a fortune. If you’re interested in switching up your commute or just enjoying a leisurely boat ride, here’s everything you need to know about the city’s newest public transportation network.
What routes are currently operational?
Between the ferry’s launch in May 2017 and the end of 2018, NYC Ferry launched six routes: East River, Rockaway, Astoria, South Brooklyn, Lower East Side, and Soundview. (A new Brooklyn Navy Yard stop has since been added to the Astoria Route.)
The system’s main hub is Pier 11/Wall Street, where all lines converge. From there, on the weekends during the summer, the South Brooklyn and East River routes offer connections to Governors Island.
What routes are coming soon?
Several new routes are on the horizon for the service, including one from Staten Island to Battery Park City and then up the west side of Manhattan scheduled to launch in 2020. Another route from Coney Island to lower Manhattan is in the works, and a new landing in the Throgs Neck section of the Bronx is also planned for 2021.
The South Brooklyn Route will also be reconfigured to commence from Sunset Park/Brooklyn Army Terminal instead of Bay Ridge, which will be added to the new Coney Island Route, and will no longer stop at Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park (that stop will only be accessible via the East River route).
How much does a ferry ride cost?
It’s the same as riding the subway: $2.75 for a one-way fare, and $121 for a 30-day pass. You have to pay an additional $1 to bring your bike onboard, which translates to $141 for a 30-day pass that includes a bike onboard.
Unfortunately, you can’t use your MetroCard on the ferry, which has led critics to question how much the ferry will actually benefit commuters. But the service does offer free transfers within its routes up to 90 minutes from when you first board the ferry.
How do I buy tickets?
Each of the ferry landings has electronic vending machines and ticket agents to help you out, but the easiest way to do it is to download the ferry app on your smartphone. The app also offers a detailed breakdown of the ferry schedule. Tickets are also available for purchase on the NYC Ferry’s website.
How many people can each ferry seat?
Most of the NYC Ferry’s existing fleet fits 129 inside and 28 people on the outer deck for a total of 149 passengers. In 2018, the city debuted the first of its six 350-passenger boats to meet the growing demand for the system.
How long is the ride?
Times vary depending on the route. The shortest route is the Lower East Side, which is completed in about 34 minutes. But the distance between the Rockaways and Wall Street, meanwhile, is covered in approximately 57 minutes. It takes about 35 minutes between Wall Street and Astoria; from South Brooklyn to Pier 11 it’s 46 minutes; the Soundview trip takes 46 minutes; and the East River route last 48 minutes.
What can I do once I’m on board?
Well, aside from the free Wi-Fi and charging stations, you can also hit the sauce, among other beverages. The ferry offers beer on tap, wine, and coffee, along with a selection of snacks, all part of a concessions stand called The New Stand. Brooklyn Pilsner and the Gotham Project are on tap, and Joe Coffee is the pick-me-up of choice.
How have New Yorkers reacted to the new ferry system?
Mayor Bill de Blasio launched the NYC Ferry system in 2017, and cast his ferries as an alternative to the ailing public transportation offered by the MTA, pegging the fare to the price of a subway or bus swipe. This, de Blasio said at his 2015 state of the city address announcing the service, would make ferries “affordable to everyday New Yorkers just like our subways and buses.”
But since its launch, the service has navigated choppy waters, with critics calling it a boutique transportation project that lacks the capacity to meaningfully serve commuters. (The latest ferry boats holds up to 350 riders, while a single subway train can carry upwards of 1,000 straphangers.) The fare may be the same as a subway or bus ride, but the system sails with a $9.34 per passenger subsidy; meanwhile, the subway fare is subsidized at $1.05 per rider. Long-withheld surveys also found that upon its launch the typical ferry rider earned a six-figure salary—not exactly the average New Yorker de Blasio cast as the service’s target audience.
Still, for all its foibles, the ferry system draws millions of riders each year and as the city continues to pour resources into it, so it won’t be going anywhere any time soon.
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