NYC Ferry Forward

A Plan for a More Equitable, Accessible,and Financially Sustainable System

NYC Ferry Forward: A Plan for a More Equitable,Accessible, and Financially Sustainable System
Since its launch in 2017, NYC Ferry has become an essential part ofthe city’s transit system, connecting New Yorkers and visitors alike toall five boroughs. At the direction of Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Ferry andNew York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) havedeveloped a number of new strategies for improving the system,
building on successes, and incorporating lessons from the past fiveyears of operations.
These changes are designed to improve equity and access to theferry, especially for lower-income New Yorkers, while also making it
more financially sustainable and reducing the amount of public
subsidy required to operate the system over time.
Shoring up NYC Ferry’s finances and increasing ridership throughimproved access and outreach are critical first steps towards
planning for the future of the system. Once these new policies go into
effect, NYC Ferry and the Adams administration will be able to observe
impacts to revenue and ridership, which will in turn help inform future
decisions about the service. Additionally, NYCEDC plans to issue acompetitive RFP for operation of the system later this year, which will
provide an opportunity for further improvements to thesystem’s operation.

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1. Expanded Discount Program for NYC Ferry
Starting in September 2022, NYC Ferry will expand its discount program
to offer $1.35 one-way tickets for seniors, people with disabilities, andother riders who participate in the Fair Fares NYC program.
Eligible New Yorkers will be able to apply for the ferry discount programusing the NYC Ferry website or by mailing in an application. Once verified,eligible riders can buy discounted tickets through the app or from NYC
Ferry ticket windows and agents. This discounted rate will make the ferry
accessible to even more New Yorkers, while also helping to diversify
NYC Ferry's ridership.
Timing: Starts September 12, 2022

2. Free Trip Vouchers and Expanded
Outreach at NYCHA
There are almost 60 NYCHA developments within a 15-minute walk of
an NYC Ferry landing, and the expanded discount program presents anew opportunity to encourage residents to try NYC Ferry for the first time.
In partnership with NYCHA and other community organizations, theNYC Ferry team will conduct targeted and ongoing outreach to NYCHAresidents and offer two free NYC Ferry app tickets for new riders in every
NYCHA residence within a mile of an NYC Ferry stop.
Timing: Starts late summer 2022

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3. Making It Easier for New Yorkers to Biketo and From the Ferry
To reduce impediments for New Yorkers looking to take their bicycles
onto the ferry, NYC Ferry will eliminate the current $1.00 bike fee startingin September 2022. While bike capacity is limited on vessels, this will
better connect NYC Ferry with other environmentally sustainable modesof transit and help encourage ridership among New Yorkers looking toincorporate bicycles as a “last mile” transportation option.
Timing: Starts September 12, 2022

4. Creative Opportunities for Revenue Generation
to Improve Equity and Financial Sustainability
While all public transit systems use subsidies to keep fares affordable
and encourage robust usage, there are clear opportunities for NYC Ferry
to generate additional revenues that could reduce the amount of publicfunds required to operate.
NYC Ferry initially launched at a uniform price point of $2.75 per single
ride, the same as the cost of a MetroCard, to encourage early ridershipamong all New Yorkers. Now that the system has further matured, there isan opportunity to adjust the fare structure to ensure that commuters andfrequent riders retain access to affordable rates, while tourists andoccasional riders contribute more to help support the system.

4Starting in September 2022, NYC Ferry will increase the base fare to$4.00 for single trips, while adding a 10-trip bundle for $27.50, enabling
commuters and other frequent riders to continue enjoying a $2.75 fare.
The new expanded discount program will ensure that NYC Ferry remains
affordable to New Yorkers at all income levels.
NYC Ferry will also pilot a new direct-to-beach service called “RockawayRocket,” expected to launch later this summer. This service will operatefrom Wall Street to Rockaway on summer weekends as an additional andsupplementary service to the existing departures. Rockaway Rocket willoffer a pre-booked trip at a set departure time for $8.00 each way.
In addition to raising revenue, the new service is expected to help divert
some recreational travelers from the standard ferry trips, helping to reduce
wait times for commuters and other riders.
Finally, NYC Ferry will be looking for revenue-generating sponsorship
opportunities to help reduce system costs. These could include
advertising on board as well as sponsored naming rights opportunities.
Timing: Base fare and bundle start September 12, 2022;
Rockaway Rocket starts July 23, 2022

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5. Plan for the System’s Future and Increase
Public Engagement
NYC Ferry will launch an expanded public information campaign—throughdigital and in-person outreach—to familiarize New Yorkers with the benefitsof the system and encourage them to experience and ride NYC Ferry.
And, in addition to all current reporting, which includes quarterly ridership
report summaries and annual onboard survey reports, NYCEDC will makefinancial information and ridership data publicly accessible on its website.
NYCEDC will also release a public, competitive procurement for a new
operating contract for NYC Ferry later this summer, a process that will help
shape the future of the system over the next five years and beyond. Amongother factors, the procurement will focus on preserving affordability andequity, increasing ridership, driving innovation, ensuring safety and reliability,and maximizing opportunities for non-farebox revenue.
Timing: RFP releases in late summer 2022

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