two years after New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled “NYC Ferry Forward,” New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is announcing new initiatives to support the vision for a more equitable, accessible, and fiscally sustainable citywide ferry system through a forthcoming new fare structure, increased access to younger New Yorkers, additional rider-facing upgrades, and increased creative revenue generating activities. With a record breaking seven million riders in Fiscal Year 2024, NYC Ferry is on track to continue increasing ridership, while lowering the per passenger subsidy over 30 percent from its peak to $8.55. Of the major transit systems in the New York City region, NYC Ferry has the third lowest subsidy, behind the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s subway and local bus system and is the only transit system to lower its per-passenger subsidy since the pandemic.
Additionally, amidst Mayor Adams’ Summer of Possibility, starting this Saturday, July 20th, NYC Ferry welcomes back the Rockaway Rocket, a dedicated summer beach service. This year’s Rockway Rocket will launch from Long Island City and Greenpoint, the first-time direct beach service has been available from either location.
“NYC Ferry keeps New Yorkers moving, whether it’s to work, to visit our beaches, or just to go for a beautiful, eco-friendly ride,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We’re continuing to make our ferry system more equitable, more sustainable, and more accessible through our Ferry Forward plan, and these latest updates will help keep our ferries on track. More and more New Yorkers are riding our ferries, and we’re going to keep delivering for them.”
“Today’s exciting announcement shows continued progress in the Adams Administration’s ‘NYC Ferry Forward’ plan which charted a course to create a more equitable, accessible, and financially sustainable ferry system,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development & Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Whether it is the Rockaway Rocket and a trip to the beach, students getting to school or tourists traveling the city, NYC Ferry is an integral part of the public transit system and I look forward to continuing record-breaking ridership and more efficient operations in the coming months and years.”
“Since launching NYC Ferry Forward just two years ago, NYC Ferry continues to set ridership records while substantially decreasing the per passenger subsidy, all while delivering an amazing rider experience for New Yorkers,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “We will continue to build upon NYC Ferry Forward’s successes with new initiatives that support our mission of increasing access and while fostering a fiscally sustainable citywide ferry system. And with the return of the Rockaway Rocket and other improved vessel upgrades, there is no better way to get around New York City this summer than aboard a NYC Ferry.”
“Every day New York City Public School students travel our city’s waterways on their way to school, and this partnership will make it easier for even more students to take advantage of NYC Ferry,” said Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. “From students studying aquatic ecosystems to graduates taking jobs in the city’s maritime industry, we know that our waterways are an integral part of our students’ lives.”
“As the founding operator of NYC Ferry since 2017, Hornblower is proud to partner with NYCEDC to build on our record ridership while continuing to introduce new upgrades to the system and decreasing the per passenger subsidy,” said Timothy O’Brien, SVP of Ferries and Transportation at Hornblower Group. “NYC Ferry provides everyday New Yorkers and visiting tourists with a reliable, convenient, and accessible commuting option. We look forward to welcoming millions onboard in the years ahead as we continue to build on the Ferry Forward vision.”
“The NYC Ferry has become a vital means of transportation for thousands of riders in our city, connecting residents in historic transit deserts to other boroughs and significantly reducing commute times for passengers,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “With the new initiatives announced by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, even more New Yorkers will be able to utilize the NYC Ferry to get to their destination.”
“The NYC Ferry system is a vital mode of transportation for my community in Soundview, as well as New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” said Councilmember Amanda Farías. “The Ferry Forward program continues to ensure that the system remains an equitable and viable mode of transportation for our constituents. Today’s announcement is especially exciting for our city’s young people, as the successful discount pilot program will now be available to over 350,000 high school students. I was proud to have created this student ferry fare, and gain support from the Administration and EDC, to see this discount program come to fruition and provide our students and families with additional and affordable transportation options. I look forward to working with Mayor Adams and EDC to keep building upon the Ferry Forward program and improve our ferry system.”
FARE STRUCTURE, INCREASED ACCESS & FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM
Since the launch of NYC Ferry Forward and the recent completion of a new operating agreement with Hornblower, NYCEDC and NYC Ferry have been dedicated to improving the long-term financial sustainability of the system. To continue this progress, exciting new initiatives will include:
- Starting on September 9th, 2024, new NYC Ferry fare changes will go into effect. Fare changes will enable commuters and other frequent riders to maintain low-cost one-way fares that match the subway and bus by using the 10-trip bundle at $29.00, a per-ticket cost of $2.90. Single trip tickets will be $4.50, up from $4.00.
- New Yorkers enrolled in the NYC Ferry Discount Program—launched in fall 2022 and modeled after the city’s Fair Fares program for subways and buses, which offers reduced-fair rides for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income riders — can still take advantage of the program. Enrollees will be able to ride the ferry, one way, for $1.45.
- Starting on September 1st, 2024, in accordance with Local Law 236-A of 2023 all New York City high school students will be able to take part in NYC Ferry’s discount program on weekdays to travel to and from school. On August 1st, parents or guardians of high school students can visit the New York City Student Account (NYCSA) portal and NYC Ferry’s Discount Program webpage for more information on how to apply. Over 350,000 New York City high schoolers will be eligible to enroll in the program.
- Additionally, in the past year NYC Ferry has launched exciting new partnerships and activations to generating additional revenue and engage audiences including a collaboration with Spotify, partnering with Harry Potter for Hogwarts-branded ferries, and a collaboration with Gay Pride Apparel for a capsule collection of merchandise for Pride Month.
ROCKAWAY ROCKET RETURNS
NYC Ferry’s popular summer beach service, the Rockaway Rocket, is also returning this weekend. Riders can get reservable, direct weekend service to Rockaway Beach from Long Island City and Greenpoint. For only $10, riders will be able to reserve seats on two morning departures to Rockaway and two evening return trips back from Rockaway. The Rockaway Rocket will run from July 20th through Labor Day weekend.
In May, NYC Ferry relaunched the Rockaway Reserve providing riders with the opportunity to reserve a spot on select morning trips towards the Rockaways and afternoon trips back to Pier 11 and Brooklyn Army Terminal for $10 per rider on weekends and holidays. This includes priority boarding and a guaranteed spot on-board with beach-bound departures every 25 minutes between 9am-2pm and Wall Street-bound departures between 3pm-8pm.
WI-FI AND OTHER FEATURE UPGRADES FOR RIDERS
As part of the new 2023 NYC Ferry operating agreement, NYC Ferry is already rolling out a series of new rider improvements:
- Free WiFi across all NYC Ferry vessels;
- Expanded language access in the NYC Ferry app and on the NYC Ferry website;
- Automatic onboard audio and visual announcements alerting riders of the next stop;
- Later this summer, riders will be able to send a text message or call an automated voice service to get real-time schedule information for every landing in NYC Ferry system;
- And, coming soon, riders will be able to view real-time seat and bike spot availability via the NYC Ferry app for every vessel.
Since the NYC Ferry Forward plan was announced, the program has successfully:
- Introduced and expanded the Discount Program to make the NYC Ferry more accessible to New Yorkers;
- Increased financial transparency through an annual publication of detailed financial documents on NYCEDC’s website and ridership data on Open Data NYC;
- After a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, signed a new contract with the ferry operator, Hornblower, in August 2023;
- Improved its service in cost-effective ways through the Rockaway Rocket, the Rockaway Reserve, and South Brooklyn Faster Connections;
- Decreased the per passenger subsidy over 30 percent from its peak to $8.55 as of FY23;
- Announced its intention to secure a revenue-generating system-name sponsor to secure NYC Ferry’s first-ever naming rights brand partnership which is expected to lead to a multi-million deal with revenues aimed to reduce subsidies;
- And recorded historic record ridership numbers with more than 7.1 million riders boarding NYC Ferry in FY24.
The NYC Ferry system provides about seven million riders annually with safe, dependable, affordable, and accessible transit across the five boroughs. With six routes that touch every borough, 25 landings, and 38 vessels, the system spans 70+ nautical miles and is the largest passenger-only fleet in the nation, based on hours of service and fleet size. NYC Ferry has further proven to be among the country’s most resilient transit networks with the third-fastest ridership recovery of the largest transit systems in the U.S. since the pandemic.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city’s future economy.
