Brooklyn residents will soon have more options to ride the NYC Ferry in and out of Manhattan.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation and NYC Ferry on Monday said they finalized a comprehensive redesign of the ferry routes, which includes connecting Staten Island to Brooklyn, and adding a one-seat ride to Wall Street and Midtown Manhattan from Red Hook and Atlantic Avenue.
Route changes, which take effect on Dec. 8, include:
- Splitting the East River into two routes at most times of day, increasing capacity and making trips faster. A local route will serve all stops on the East River during midday on weekdays and on winter weekends to preserve connectivity.
- Combining the Soundview and Rockaway routes, getting Rockaway route riders to Midtown and E. 90th St with a one-seat ride and filling previously near-empty boats going toward the Bronx during morning commutes.
- Connecting the St. George (Staten Island) route to Brooklyn and the rest of the system and creating access from Brooklyn to Manhattan’s west side for the first time.
- Providing a one-seat ride to Midtown for the South Brooklyn route, connecting residents to and from Red Hook and Atlantic Avenue with increased frequency.
- Introducing an additional pilot service in South Brooklyn on summer weekends in 2026, extending the new South Brooklyn route to Bay Ridge and Sunset Park for local connections.This pilot service will be analyzed and evaluated in the fall of 2026.
In addition, the EDC said it will add two new landings, one in East Harlem, 125th Street and another at MADE-Bush Terminal in Sunset Park.
Expanding ferry services reaffirms the city's commitment to supporting vital job centers and neighborhoods throughout the harbor for generations to come, Andrew Kimball, EDC president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
The EDC is also working on opening Homeport II in Red Hook by 2027, which will provide new space for about half the ferry fleet that today is stored and maintained in a series of non-permanent mooring configurations.
“Ferries are a critical transportation option for New Yorkers, and we couldn’t be more excited that the system will be improving next month,” said Ben Furnas, executive director of Transportation Alternatives. “We’re especially happy that there will be a new Staten Island-Brooklyn ferry connection and a seamless ride from Midtown to South Brooklyn. As more New Yorkers choose to commute via boat, the entire city will benefit from cleaner air, faster commutes, and a wider public transit network.”
Click here to read the 2025 Ferries Report.
