In line with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s policy goals of providing support to growing neighbourhoods and access to opportunities, a new ferry service was launched this week, NYC Ferry. The service currently offers two routes – servicing Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens – and two further routes are due to be opened later this year.
The Mayor presented the ferry service as a solution to increasing traffic congestion in the city, taking advantage of the underutilised waterways. The service will cost the city $325m (approx. €300m), and will see 20 vessels – each able to carry 157 passengers – in operation by 2018.
On board, passengers can enjoy free Wi-Fi, charging stations and refreshments. One-way fares are capped at the price of a subway ticket, $2.75 (approx. €2.50), and monthly passes are available.
One of the most romantic things you can do in the Big Apple is to take the Staten Island Ferry at night. Once the ferry leaves South Ferry / Whitehall terminal, just go through the doors marked ‘strictly no entry’ and you will pass by the lit-up Statue of Liberty at water level. Wonderful.