Full, 24-hour Staten Island Ferry service resumes today
Photo by Natalie Maguire via Flickr cc
In 2019, the Staten Island Ferry served 70,000 passengers on an average weekday, running at least every 30 minutes all 24 hours. But in March 2020, the Department of Transportation reduced service to only once per hour due to declining ridership during the pandemic. Starting today, though, full service is resuming. “The Staten Island Ferry knits this city together, and the return of 24/7 half-hour service is a sure sign that a recovery for all of us is underway,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The ferry is the only mode of public transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan. The service is free and the trip between the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island and the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan takes about 25 minutes.
In June 2020, as the city entered its first phase of reopening, the Staten Island Ferry began to run every 20 minutes during peak hours–6am to 9am and 3:30pm to 6:30pm. Now, 15-minute rush-hour service is reinstated, too, running from 7am to 9am and 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Half-hour service on weekends has also been restored.
“Staten Island lived up to its responsibility during the economic difficulties brought upon by Covid and we accepted the reduction in service. But as the Mayor has made clear, we are in a ‘Recovery for all’ and that means helping all those essential workers and Staten Islanders who work outside of the typical 9-5 schedule. Local Law 88 of 2013 and 24/7/365 half hour service lives!” said Staten Island Borough President James Oddo.
Oddo’s mention of Local Law 88 is a reference to the 2013 legislation that said the DOT had to increase ferry service to every 30 minutes round the clock. This has increased ridership over the years, with 2019 seeing 22 million passengers.
NYC subway service returned 24/7 on May 17, two days before the city and state lifted most capacity restrictions. When 24/7 subway service was put on hold to accommodate increased sanitization efforts, it was the first time the subway had ever closed overnight since its inception 117 years ago.
You can find more information and schedules for the Staten Island Ferry here >>
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