It’ll soon be more expensive to ride the NYC Ferry as they recently announced that a fare hike will go into effect this September, raising single-trip tickets to $4.50 from $4.
Beyond single-trip tickets, a ten-trip ticket bundle will also increase from $27.50 to $29.00, making each ticket $2.90–the same price as subway and bus fares (though it won’t be long until another subway fare hike is expected to take place).
Not everyone will have to shell out $4.50, however.
The NYC Ferry offers a discount program in which seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income travelers can purchase ferry tickets for only $1.45. High school students citywide will also have access to reduced fares during weekday travel to and from school beginning Sunday, September 1st (applications for this program open on Thursday, August 1st on the NYC Student Account portal).
According to NY1, NYCEDC President Andrew Kimball stated that, on the bright side, New Yorkers can expect service and vessel upgrades following the fare increase, one of these upgrades being the return of the Rockaway Rocket with two new stops. Kimball stated:
We will continue to build upon NYC Ferry Forward’s successes with new initiatives that support our mission of increasing access while fostering a fiscally sustainable citywide ferry system. And with the return of the Rockaway Rocket and other improved vessel upgrades, there is no better way to get around New York City this summer than aboard a NYC Ferry.
Other enhanced services include free WiFi on all vessels, expanded language support, and automated audio-visual announcements for upcoming stops.
NY1 writes that “riders will also be able to access real-time schedule updates via text or automated voice services, with future updates allowing real-time availability checks for seats on vessels and bike parking spots through the NYC Ferry app” later this summer.
The NYC Ferry fare hike will go into effect on Monday, September 9th.