Lower East Side Ferry Route To Launch This Month

LOWER EAST SIDE, NY — The much anticipated Lower East Side ferry route will shove off on Aug. 29, the Economic Development Cooperation announced Wednesday.

The new route will run from Wall Street, to Corlears Hook, to Stuyvesant Cove, East 34th Street, and end in Long Island City for a 32-minute journey. Ahead of the Lower East Side route, the city will kick off the Soundview line on August 15th, which will shuttle seafarers from Clason Point Park in the Soundview section of the Bronx, to East 90th Street on the Upper East Side, to East 34th Street and finally winds down at Wall Street for a 54 minute trip.

NYC Ferry, which launched in 2017, currently operates four routes throughout the city. The Lower East Side and Soundview lines are the final routes in the city's ferry network. The fare is $2.75, the same as a subway swipe.

“We’re excited to launch NYC Ferry service in the Bronx, the Upper East Side and the Lower East Side, which have historically been transit deserts,” said James Patchett, the president of the city's Economic Development Cooperation. “For the same cost of a subway ride, New Yorkers that live and work in these communities will now have a fast, affordable and convenient way to get around the city.”

The city expects ferry service to shrink commutes for Lower East Siders. The new line can take riders from the Lower East Side to Wall Street in nine minutes and from the Lower East Side to Midtown in 17 minutes, according to the city's estimates. Many Lower East Siders have a 13 minute walk just to get to the nearest subway station.

One million riders are expected to use the Lower East Side route, the city projects. Since its launch, NYC Ferry has served over 5 million riders across the Astoria, East River, South Brooklyn and Rockaway routes.

Last month, the city welcomed the first of six higher-capacity 350-passenger boats to meet ridership demands.

Lead photo courtesy of the City of New York/ Ferry route map courtesy of the Economic Development Corporation