City announces schedule and new weekend stop for South Brooklyn ferry route

The South Brooklyn route of the NYC Ferry, which starts at Bay Ridge’s 69th Street Veterans Memorial Pier, will set sail at 6:30 a.m. come its June 1 start date, according to city officials.

Weekday service on the route — which will make stops at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6 near Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1 in DUMBO and Wall Street’s Pier 11 — will start at 6:30 a.m. in Bay Ridge, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). From there, it will pick up passengers in Sunset Park at 6:45 a.m., followed by a stop in Red Hook at 6:52 a.m., another at Pier 6/Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn Bridge Park at 7:02 a.m., and one more at DUMBO’s Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park at 7:10 a.m. before finally arriving at Wall Street’s Pier 11 at 7:13 a.m.

Total trip time, according to schedule, will be just 43 minutes.

NYCEDC added that the ferry will depart every 30 minutes through the morning rush (through to 9:30 a.m.), and again from 4:15 p.m. till last ride, and every 45 minutes during all other hours of operation, with one final trip from Bay Ridge pushing off at 9:15 p.m. on weekdays. Weekend service will run similarly, with the first ride of the day at 6:30 p.m., and the last at 9:30 p.m.

Furthermore, come weekends, the route will also make mid-day loops from its Red Hook landing to Governors Island when people are permitted to access the island. The added stop was announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday, April 17 during the christening of the first boat (named “The Lunch Box” by winning Bay Ridge second graders).

The first ferry will depart on weekends for Governors Island from Brooklyn Bridge Park at 10:27 a.m., and from Red Hook at 10:35 a.m., according to NYCEDC. The last ferry will depart Governors Island for Red Hook at 6:48 p.m. and for Brooklyn Bridge Park at 6:56 p.m. It will also make loops via the East River route, which expands on the current East River Ferry system.

Image courtesy of NYCEDC
Image courtesy of NYCEDC

According to reports, the NYC Ferry will dock at Pier 102 on the eastern side of Governors Island’s Historic District, without interrupting Governors Island’s regular ferries from Lower Manhattan.

“Like the brand new NYC Ferry, Governors Island is opening a month ahead of time this year,” said de Blasio in a statement. “By connecting the two, we celebrate our City’s seafaring history and continue putting a premium on access to jobs, community, and recreation.”

“Governors Island is a big part of what makes summer in New York City so special, and with NYC Ferry we’re making it even easier for families to get there,” said NYCEDC President and CEO James Patchett. “It’s just one more way that NYC Ferry is helping thousands of New Yorkers get where they want to be.”

A ride on the NYC Ferry — formerly known as the five-borough or citywide ferry system  — will cost the same as one on the subway — just $2.75 — which riders will be able to pay for with their smartphones, credit cards or cash, as well as purchase monthly unlimited passes. Once aboard, riders can enjoy free Wi-Fi and purchase snacks and both boozy and non-alcoholic beverages.

The $55 million project — now officially named NYC Ferry — was first introduced by the mayor and NYCEDC in February, 2016. All six of the service’s routes are slated to be up and running (or sailing, rather) by 2018. The Rockaway, Queens line will be the first route to launch, and will set sail a month ahead of schedule on May 1, along with the refurbished version of the pre-existing East River route.

The Bay Ridge landing is one of over 20 new ones being constructed, according to officials, who also say the ferry service will span over 60 miles of previously underutilized New York City waterways and accommodate approximately 4.6 million passengers.

Click here to view the route’s full schedule.

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