The journey from Midtown, Manhattan to Staten Island just got easier following the launch of a new NYC Ferry line connecting the two boroughs. The ferry, which costs the equivalent of a single-swipe subway fare, now stops in Midtown at West 39th Street, Vesey Street in Battery Park City, and the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island.
The entire route takes around 35 minutes from Midtown West to St. George. The trip from Battery Park City to St. George is less than 20 minutes. Vessels operate every 30 minutes during peak times and every 45 minutes during off-peak times.
“Today, we’re launching the first new transportation option to and from Staten Island in decades,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. “NYC Ferry will shorten commutes for thousands of New Yorkers every day, and provide greater connections than ever between two iconic boroughs. I’m proud to make New York City more accessible than ever.”
Since its launch in May 2017, NYC Ferry has served over 20 million riders across the Astoria, East River, South Brooklyn, Rockaway, East River, and Soundview routes. The St. George route is expected to add access for a significant number of Staten Island residents who work in Manhattan, an expansion that Staten Island borough president James Oddo calls a major quality of life improvement for his constituents.
“The start of fast ferry service between Staten Island and Manhattan strikes a blow for fairness and equity,” said Oddo. “My hope and expectation is that the success of this route will result in additional service at some point, most obvious being a connection to Brooklyn. That day will come.”
Despite these hopeful sentiments, no official word yet when or if a Brooklyn-Staten Island ferry connection is in the works.
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Everybody like a boat ride, but this is just adding more pollution to our air.
Do you have a better alternative?
There are cleaner fuel sources. Just like what many no-longer-smelly city buses use.
Why don’t the ferries go to the Upper West Side? There is a boat slip at W125th Street.
Other communities were selected for this year’s system expansion due to various criteria: Staten Island, Coney Island, and Throgs Neck (additional stop). Maybe in the future NYC Ferry will create a new line including W 125th Street, it’s definitely a contender.