Sixth NYC Ferry Route: Bronx route projected to serve 400,000 riders traveling to and from the Soundview community and Manhattan’s East 90th Street, East 34th Street and Wall Street/Pier 11
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced progress constructing a new NYC Ferry landing in Soundview for a new route launching this summer. Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, the City’s Economic Development Corporation, elected officials and community leaders toured the construction site.
The Soundview route is anticipated to serve 400,000 riders a year travelling between the South Bronx and a new landing at East 90th Street, as well as existing landings at East 34th Street and Wall Street/Pier 11 in Manhattan. Riders on the new route will be able to make free connections at East 34th Street and Pier 11/Wall Street to the existing Astoria, Rockaway, East River, Lower East Side and South Brooklyn lines.
“NYC Ferry is a transit success story. It’s reducing commuting times for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and bringing direct access to jobs, schools, parks and cultural institutions to the doorstep of our most underserved neighborhoods. NYC Ferry is helping us make this the fairest big city in America,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
“From the Bronx to Far Rockaway and South Brooklyn, NYC Ferry opens up our waterways and connects New Yorkers as never before. As we work to keep our city diverse and prosperous, we want to be sure opportunity is accessible to everyone,” said Alicia Glen, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development.
“Extending NYC Ferry service to the residents of communities in the South Bronx is essential as we work to make New York a more equitable and traversable city,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President James Patchett. “The two new routes that will start ferrying passengers this summer are a welcomed addition to the already wildly popular system.”
“A thriving city requires us to consider new, alternative modes of transportation. Soundview is the perfect community to host new ferry service, and it is my hope that this new transit option will not only ease commutes for Bronx residents, but will provide travelers with a new way to visit and explore The Bronx. I thank NYCEDC and the administration for their work to expand ferry service to Soundview, and I look forward to bringing this service to other Bronx communities in the future,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
The Lower East Side route, the other new route coming online this summer, is projected to serve nearly one million riders annually traveling to and from Manhattan’s Wall Street/Pier 11, Corlears Hook, Stuyvesant Cove, East 34th Street; and Long Island City, in Queens.
Initial projections had NYC Ferry carrying more than 4.6 million trips per year on 23 vessels across six routes – providing a new and easily accessible transit option to traditionally underserved communities where jobs and housing are growing rapidly.
In 2017, NYC Ferry served nearly 3 million riders across all four routes currently in operation. The total exceeded the projected number of riders by approximately 34%, or 800,000 riders. In response to the high demand, NYC Ferry announced construction of six higher-capacity boats, outfitted with larger engines and designed to hold up to 349 passengers per vessel.
At $2.75 a ride, and free transfers across the ferry system, the cost is the same as a subway ride.
In its inaugural year, NYC Ferry has employed more than 250 people, and is currently hiring for 75 new jobs, including captains, deckhands, customer service agents, ticketing, operations and other positions. New Yorkers of all backgrounds and skill levels are welcome to apply. For more information or to apply for a job with NYC Ferry, please visit ferry.nyc.
