Commuting to and from Manhattan just got a little easier for Staten Islanders.
NYC Ferry has launched a new ferry service from Hell’s Kitchen to Staten Island and back. Dubbed the St. George Route, the ferry goes from Pier 79 at 39th Street in Manhattan to St. George in 35 minutes, with a stop at Battery Park City along the way. This marks the first time the city-backed service, provided by transportation company Hornblower, has served Staten Island or operated on Manhattan’s West Side.
A single ride on the new ferry is $2.75, the same as ride on a NYC subway or local bus. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines at the landings or through the NYC Ferry mobile app. There are two tickets types available for purchase, single-ride or 30-day passes. There are also ticket options for bikes. All transfers within the NYC Ferry operated by Hornblower system are free and valid for 90 minutes once you start your trip. Find out more about ticket purchasing here.
The new service runs daily starting Monday, August 23. During rush hour, boats depart every 30 minutes; during off-peak hours, every 45 minutes. A full schedule is available at ferry.nyc.
In Other Ferry News…
A brand-new boat has been added to the Staten Island Ferry service.
The new addition arrived after a tow from Port St. Joe, Fla., last month. The arrival is the first of three boats that are part of the new “Ollis Class” series of ferries for the NYC Department of Transportation Staten Island Ferry Division.
The series is named after fallen soldier of the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, ‘Climb to Glory,’ Army Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis. A Staten Island native, Ollis was killed shielding fellow soldiers from a suicide bomber in Afghanistan on August 28, 2013, while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom. The first boat of the series is named SSG Michael H. Ollis in his honor.
The new ferry was built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. The company is also building the other two boats in the series: the Sandy Ground and Dorothy Day. According to Eastern Shipbuilding, the new ferries are larger, reflect modern technology and will operate more safely in extreme weather conditions.
Amenities and features of the new fleet include:
- Comfortable seating
- Phone-charging outlets
- An outdoor walking track for ferry riders
- Modern marine technology for energy efficiency/environmental friendliness
- Design features that are part of the city’s emergency response plan
The three ferries in the Ollis Class will replace the Kennedy, Andrew J. Barberi and Samuel I. Newhouse boats. The SSG Michael H. Ollis will go into service this fall.
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