NYC Ferry to Revise Routes 

New York City’s ferry system is in for some major adjustments by the end of 2025. City officials have announced a broad overhaul that aims to help more people travel between Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Manhattan. As part of this redesign, two new ferry landings are opening—one at East Harlem’s 125th Street and another in Sunset Park. The East 34th Street terminal will also get bigger.

The ferry routes themselves will look pretty different. The East River line is being split during most of the day to speed up trips, especially during weekday middays and winter weekends. The Soundview and Rockaway routes are combining too, which means people from Rockaway will be able to reach Midtown and the Bronx without changing boats.

A big change for Staten Island: for the first time, ferries from the St. George terminal will head directly to Brooklyn and connect with the rest of the system. Meanwhile, the South Brooklyn line will take people straight to Midtown but won’t regularly stop at Sunset Park or Bay Ridge anymore. On weekends in summer 2026, these stops will be tested again in a pilot program to see if they should return.

Ferry fares will increase to $4.50 per trip starting January, which is above the $3 fare for subways and buses. City officials have noted that the subsidy per ferry rider has dropped this year, but the system is still taxpayer-supported.

Not every neighborhood will benefit right away. Residents of places like Canarsie still don’t have a ferry connection, though the city says it might study those options in the future. Most of the changes go into effect in December 2025, and city agencies plan to review rider feedback as the system adapts.