NYC Ferry Rides Could Soon Cost More

NEW YORK CITY— A ride on the New York City Ferry could soon cost $5, up from $4.50, as the City considers its first fare increase in two years.

The proposed 50-cent increase would take effect Oct. 19 if approved Wednesday by the New York City Economic Development Corporation board, which oversees the ferry system.

The change would raise the one-way fare by more than 11 percent.

The price of a 10-trip pass would rise from $29 to $30. Discounted fares would increase from $1.45 to $1.50.

The board will also consider extending the $1.50 discounted fare to all New York City middle school students. The discount currently applies to high school students.

The $15 unlimited two-day ticket, introduced as a pilot program last year, would become permanent at the same price under the proposal.

Why Is The Ferry Fare Going Up?

The higher fares would generate more revenue for the ferry system and help support its continued expansion, according to board materials.

The City has kept ferry fares below the cost of providing each ride through taxpayer subsidies.

In 2025, the city subsidized each ferry ride by $8.33, the lowest per-rider subsidy recorded for the system, according to the Economic Development Corporation.

The subsidy also fell below the $12.01 per-rider subsidy for the Staten Island Ferry, according to the agency.

How Much Has The Ferry Fare Changed?

When NYC Ferry launched in 2017, a ride cost $2.75, the same as a subway ride at the time.

The fare rose to $4 in 2024 and then to $4.50. The 2024 increase also expanded the discounted fare program to all high school students after previously limiting it to students at the New York Harbor School on Governors Island.

The ferry system has grown alongside its price.

More than 7.3 million rides were recorded between July 2025 and July 2026, according to an Economic Development Corporation performance report based on data from Hornblower Group, which operates the ferry system.

The system recorded its busiest day ever Aug. 15, with 56,882 boardings.

The ferry serves waterfront neighborhoods across the City, including parts of Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island.

More than 60 percent of riders used the ferry for reasons other than commuting to work or school, according to the most recent rider survey, conducted in 2024.

The system expanded again in late 2025, adding service between Brooklyn, Staten Island and Manhattan's West Side, as well as a route connecting the Rockaways with Soundview and Throgs Neck in The Bronx.