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Ferries

√ NY Agencies

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New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC)

The EDC oversees the development, operation, and maintenance of the city’s ferry service, which includes the NYC Ferry and Staten Island Ferry. Mayor’s Management Report

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Department of Transportation (DOT)

The DOT is responsible for regulating ferry operations in the city and ensuring that all ferries meet safety standards. Mayor’s Management Report

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Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

While not a city government office, the Port Authority operates several ferry services in the New York metropolitan area, including the PATH train and the NY Waterway ferry system.

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Mayor's Office of Emergency Management

This office coordinates emergency response efforts, which may include the use of ferries for evacuation or other purposes during a crisis. Mayor’s Management Report

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New York City Council Committee on Transportation

This committee oversees transportation policy and legislation, including issues related to ferry transportation.

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New York City Economic Development Corporation

This organization is focused on promoting economic growth and development in New York City. They have been instrumental in the development of ferry services in the city, including the NYC Ferry system, which provides affordable transportation options for residents and visitors. Mayor’s Management Report

√ Reports

NYC Ferry Sustainability Report 2021

This report outlines the sustainability efforts of NYC Ferry, including its use of renewable energy, its reduction of emissions, and its commitment to environmental stewardship.

Audit Report on the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s Administration of the NYC Ferry Operation

This audit found that EDC did not disclose over $224 million in expenditures as ferry-related in its audited financial statements and that EDC understated the City’s subsidy for the ferry operations.

NYC Ferries Reports and Statistics

On-time performance (OTP) is a measure of how often vessels are running on-time. Average daily ridership. Ridership by landing.

NYC Ferry Expansion Feasibility Study 2018-2019

An objective, data-driven analysis of expansion opportunities to inform policy decisions by the de Blasio administration. Source: EDC

NYC Ferry Survey

The New York City Department for the Aging publishes an annual report on diabetes services for older adults in the city. The report includes information on diabetes self-management education classes, nutrition counseling, and other services offered by the department.

NYC Ferry Sustainability Report 2021

This report outlines the sustainability efforts of NYC Ferry, including its use of renewable energy, its reduction of emissions, and its commitment to environmental stewardship.

Audit Report on the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s Administration of the NYC Ferry Operation

This audit found that EDC did not disclose over $224 million in expenditures as ferry-related in its audited financial statements and that EDC understated the City’s subsidy for the ferry operations.

NYC Ferries Reports and Statistics

On-time performance (OTP) is a measure of how often vessels are running on-time. Average daily ridership. Ridership by landing.

NYC Ferry Survey

The New York City Department for the Aging publishes an annual report on diabetes services for older adults in the city. The report includes information on diabetes self-management education classes, nutrition counseling, and other services offered by the department.

NYC Ferry Expansion Feasibility Study 2018-2019

An objective, data-driven analysis of expansion opportunities to inform policy decisions by the de Blasio administration. Source: EDC

√ Data sets

Reports & Statistics

New York City Ferry Service: This website is the official website of the NYC Ferry system. The Reports & Statistics page on this website provides quarterly reports and statistics on NYC Ferry ridership, on-time performance, and other metrics.

NYC DOT Data Feeds

This website is the website of the New York City Department of Transportation. The Data Feeds page on this website provides a list of data feeds that are available from NYC DOT, including data on ferries.

NYC Ferry Schedules

This website is the official website of the NYC Ferry system. The Vessel Schedules page on this website provides schedules for all of the NYC Ferry routes.

New York City Open Data

This dataset includes information on hourly NYC Ferry boardings by date, route, direction, ferry landing, and day of week. ‘Boardings’ are the total number of people who boarded a vessel during the time period in question. This data forms the basis of internal NYC Ferry ridership tasks to guide service planning.

√ Data visualizations

A map of NYC Ferry ridership by route

This map shows the number of people who boarded NYC ferries on each route in a given month. The map can be used to identify popular routes and to track ridership trends over time.

NYC Ferry – 2021 Survey Results

A line graph of NYC Ferry ridership over time: This line graph shows the number of people who boarded NYC ferries each month since the system launched in 2017. The graph can be used to see how ridership has grown over time and to identify any seasonal trends.

√ STATISTICS

As of 2019, ferries carried

million, annually, EDC

Staten island Ferry route

miles, DOT

number of NYC Ferry landings

EDC

Riders

As of 2019, ferry services in New York Harbor carried approximately 40 million people a year. Source: Ferry Plan

Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry carries over 12 million passengers annually on a 5.2-mile run between the St. George Terminal in Staten Island and the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan. The Ferry runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Source: DOT

Routes
NYC Ferries have 25 landings across 70 nautical route miles.  Source: EDC

As of 2019, ferries carried

million, annually, EDC

Staten island Ferry route

miles, DOT

number of NYC Ferry landings

EDC

Riders

As of 2019, ferry services in New York Harbor carried approximately 40 million people a year. Source: Ferry Plan

Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry carries over 12 million passengers annually on a 5.2-mile run between the St. George Terminal in Staten Island and the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan. The Ferry runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Source: DOT

Routes
NYC Ferries have 25 landings across 70 nautical route miles.  Source: EDC

√ Census & American Community Survey

Commuting Characteristics
The ACS provides data on commuting patterns, including the mode of transportation used to get to work. This data can provide insight into the number of people who use ferries as a mode of transportation to get to work.
Housing and Transportation Costs
The ACS provides data on housing and transportation costs, which can help identify areas of the city where ferry service may be particularly important for residents who are cost-burdened by their housing and transportation expenses.
Commuting Characteristics
The ACS provides data on commuting patterns, including the mode of transportation used to get to work. This data can provide insight into the number of people who use ferries as a mode of transportation to get to work.
Housing and Transportation Costs
The ACS provides data on housing and transportation costs, which can help identify areas of the city where ferry service may be particularly important for residents who are cost-burdened by their housing and transportation expenses.

√ Non-Profits

Waterfront Alliance
This non-profit organization advocates for the protection and development of the waterfront in New York City. They work with a variety of stakeholders to promote sustainable waterfront policies and to increase access to the water for recreational and educational purposes.
New York Harbor Foundation
This organization is focused on promoting public access to New York Harbor and promoting environmental education through maritime programs. They operate the Billion Oyster Project, which aims to restore one billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2035.
Seamen's Church Institute
This organization provides pastoral care, advocacy, and education to mariners and their families in ports throughout the world, including New York City. They operate a maritime center in the Port of New York and New Jersey, which provides a range of services to seafarers.
Regional Plan Association
This think tank focuses on improving the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the New York metropolitan area through research, planning, and advocacy. They have published reports on ferry transportation in the region, including a recent report on the potential for ferry service between Staten Island and New Jersey.
Tri-State Transportation Campaign
This advocacy organization focuses on promoting sustainable transportation options in the tri-state region, including New York City. They have advocated for increased investment in ferry transportation as a way to reduce congestion on city streets and highways.

√ Experts

Paul Goodman - Billybey Ferry Company
Paul Goodman, founder and CEO of Billybey Ferry Company and New York Water Taxi.
Cameron Clark - Hornblower
Cameron Clark, Senior Vice President of New York City Ferry Operations at Hornblower.
Thomas Fox
Tom Fox has spent a lifetime developing innovative projects, facilitating public-private partnerships, shaping public policy and spearheading efforts to revitalize abandoned waterfronts, protect nature and reclaim vacant land in the city.
Brian J. Cudahy - transportation historian
Brian J. Cudahy is a transportation historian who has written extensively about ferries in New York City. His book, Over and Back: The History of Ferryboats in New York Harbor, is a comprehensive history of the city’s ferry system.
Jonathan Figueroa - City Experiences
City Experiences vice president of operations, facilities and support services, ferries & transportation at city experiences.
Dominic Domingo - DOT
Acting director for budget and procurement, Division of Ferries at New York City Department of Transportation.

√ Journal Articles

"Assessing the Impact of Ferry Transit on Urban Crime"
Bryan Weber and Paolo Cappellari. In 2017, over a dozen ferry stations were introduced across the NYC region on multiple dates, serving roughly 10,000 customers per day. We measure a negative association between these stations and crime reduction, a significant decline of 11 crimes per week (11%) at a one-mile radius around the stations, and about 1 crime per week (32%) over the extremely narrow base of crime at the station itself.
"Public Policy Objectives and Urban Transit: Case of Passenger Ferries in the New York City Region"
Pierre B. Vilain, Janet Cox, and Vicente Mantero. These issues are explored by defining the public interest in the context of the system, discussing whether this public interest would justify a structural change in the way passenger ferries are funded in the region, and providing a timely case study, the East River Ferry service started in June 2011.
"The History of the Ferryboat Mary Murray: The Staten Island Ferry That Became a NJ Turnpike Landmark"
David Moskowitz. The Mary Murray ferry was launched in 1937 on Staten Island, NY and would end her storied career seventy-three years later beached and rotting away in East Brunswick, NJ.

√ Key Issues

Affordability
One of the biggest issues around ferries in New York City is affordability. While ferry transportation is often faster and more pleasant than other modes of transportation, it can also be more expensive. There have been concerns that low-income New Yorkers may not be able to afford to use the ferry system.
Sustainability
Another key issue around ferries in New York City is sustainability. While ferries produce fewer emissions than cars or buses, they still contribute to air and water pollution. There have been efforts to make the city’s ferry system more sustainable, including the use of electric and hybrid vessels.
Accessibility
There have also been concerns around accessibility for ferries in New York City. While the city’s ferry system has been expanding in recent years, there are still many areas that are not served by ferry routes. Additionally, there have been concerns about accessibility for riders with disabilities, including issues around boarding and disembarking.
Integration with other modes of transportation
Another issue around ferries in New York City is the integration of the ferry system with other modes of transportation. While the ferry system can be a great alternative to driving or taking the subway, there have been concerns about the lack of connectivity between ferry terminals and other transportation hubs, such as train stations and bus stops.
Governance and funding
Finally, there have been concerns around the governance and funding of the city’s ferry system. While the system is operated by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, there have been debates around whether it should be run by a public agency or a private operator. There have also been concerns about the cost of the ferry system and how it is funded, including questions about whether it is a sustainable investment for the city.

√ Social Media Accounts

NYCferry

@NYCferry: This is the official Twitter account of the NYC Ferry system, providing updates on service changes, delays, and other information related to ferry transportation in New York City.

nycwater

@nycwater: This is a Twitter account that covers water-related news and events in New York City, including coverage of ferry transportation.

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