New Initiatives to Support NYC Ferry Forward

This Fall, a New Fare Structure and Discounts for New York City High School Students Will Go into Effect, While Exciting New Vessel and Accessibility Upgrades Already in Effect

Since the Launch of NYC Ferry Forward, Ridership Continues to Break Records, While Significantly Decreasing the Per Passenger Subsidy, with New Revenue Generating Activations Launching

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.”

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. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.