New Yorkers commuting to the West Bronx may soon be able to trade crowded subway cars and leaky station ceilings for breezy open-air views along the water as a proposed ferry route along the Harlem River is now gaining traction.
The proposal, first introduced by City Council Member Althea Stevens in January, has officially advanced to a City Council committee. Stevens is urging the city’s Department of Transportation to study key details, including potential ferry stops, boat sizes, and the overall cost of launching service along the Harlem River.
If approved, the route would mark the first ever ferry service on the Harlem River, expanding transit options in a borough with more than 1.4 million residents.
Currently, the Bronx is served by just two ferry stops along the Soundview line:
- Throgs Neck/Ferry Point Park
- Soundview – Clason Point
Last December, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) merged the Soundview and Rockaway routes, creating one uninterrupted ferry ride from Rockaway to Throggs Neck–a move that signaled growing investment in the city’s ferry network.
The Harlem River expansion could further transform how Bronx residents get around, potentially serving tens of thousands of daily commuters with a faster, more scenic alternative to trains and buses.
Meanwhile, some officials are also weighing expanded ferry service across the Hudson River ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in New Jersey. Roughly $100 million in federal funding has been allocated for World Cup-related transit improvements, with a deadline to use the funds by May 11.
The Department of Transportation is required to release a public report on the feasibility of the Harlem River ferry within the next year.
