New express ferry service takes commuters from Bay Ridge to Wall Street in 20 minutes
Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr
A new pilot program launching next month will speed up trips for South Brooklyn residents commuting to Manhattan. Starting March 8, the NYC Ferry’s South Brooklyn route will take weekday riders from Bay Ridge to Wall Street in roughly 20 minutes as part of a “Faster Connections” pilot. The new express service operates between 6:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. on weekdays.
During the express ferry rides, the South Brooklyn route will depart Bay Ridge, stop at Atlantic Avenue/Pier 6, and arrive at Wall Street/Pier 11 in 21 minutes. The pilot is being implemented on the South Brooklyn route because it has the longest average commuter travel time, according to the city.
Some trips on the South Brooklyn route will continue to make regular stops at BAT/Sunset Park, Governors Island, Red Hook, Pier 11/Wall Street, Dumbo/Fulton Ferry, and Corlears Hook.
The pilot program has no set end date and will be evaluated by the city based on ridership, on-time performance, and rider satisfaction later in the year.
In July 2022, Mayor Eric Adams revealed the first phase of the city’s new “NYC Ferry Forward” plan, a new fare system that aims to make the ferry more equitable while also reducing the ferry system’s monumental public subsidy. According to Crain’s, the pilot program has no additional cost to the ferry system.
As part of the new system, low-income New Yorkers, seniors, and people with disabilities can purchase a single ferry ride for $1.35. The price of a single trip for all other riders has increased from $2.75 to $4. The fare change is expected to generate an additional $2 million in annual revenue.
All riders with a standard adult one-way app or paper ticket can ride on the “Faster Connections” pilot. For more information on ferry ticketing and fares, visit the NYC Ferry app or the system’s website.
See the schedule for the Faster Connections pilot here.
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