NYC Ferry to Raise Fares, But Will Add Discounts and a Rockaway Express Route

The NYC Ferry is getting more expensive, but this summer the service will add an express boat to the Rockaways. Mayor Adams announced Thursday. That discount fares will also be available to certain groups in a new tiered pricing system.

The base fare for a single ferry ride will increase from $2.75 to $4 once the change goes into effect on September 12. Any New Yorker over age 65, with a disability or enrolled in the Fair Fares program can get a reduced price of $1.35 per ride. Residents of public housing within a mile of the ferry dock will also get two free rides a month. 

Regular ferry riders can also purchase a 10-pack of rides at $27.50. 

Starting July 23, the city will introduce the Rockaway Rocket, an express boat from Lower Manhattan to the Rockaways — one of the service’s busiest routes during summer weekends. It will run directly from Pier 11 to the ferry landing at Beach 108th Street. Unlike the regular ferry rides, the Rocket will require reservations, and cost $8 for a one-way trip. 

The pricing change comes in the wake of a report from the Comptroller’s Office saying the city drastically under-reported the cost of running the ferry service by $224 million. Former Mayor de Blasio had said he wanted to keep a ferry ride the same cost as a subway fare to encourage commuters to use it, but the city was subsidizing each ferry ride by as much as $14 per rider, according to the report. 

photo: Josh Katz