Arts & Entertainment

Ferry From Hell's Kitchen To Staten Island Launching This Month

NYC Ferry's new route between Pier 79 and Staten Island will start Aug. 23, marking the ferry service's first Midtown stop.

The new St. George route will launch on Aug. 23, shuttling passengers between Pier 79 at West 39th Street to St. George, on the northern tip of Staten Island.
The new St. George route will launch on Aug. 23, shuttling passengers between Pier 79 at West 39th Street to St. George, on the northern tip of Staten Island. (Caroline Spivack/Patch)

HELL'S KITCHEN, NY — Want to make a quick escape from Midtown? Starting this month, there will be a new option: an NYC Ferry route running from Hell's Kitchen along the Hudson River to Staten Island.

The new St. George route will launch on Aug. 23, leaders announced Tuesday, shuttling passengers between Pier 79 at West 39th Street to St. George, on the northern tip of Staten Island. Along the way, it will stop at Battery Park City.

First launched in 2017, NYC Ferry now operates five routes traversing the East River, South Brooklyn and the Rockaways. The cost of a single ride, $2.75, is the same as a subway fare.

Find out what's happening in Midtown-Hell's Kitchenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

A map of NYC Ferry's new St. George route, launching Aug. 23, 2021. (NYC Ferry)

After the initial launch, Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed that service would expand by 2021 to Staten Island and Coney Island. Work began in December on the ferry's St. George landing ahead of the summertime launch, a spokesperson told Patch earlier this year.

A newly released schedule shows the St. George line will run every half-hour during rush hour periods, and about every 45 minutes during off-peak hours. Trips between Staten Island and Midtown will take about 35 minutes.

Find out what's happening in Midtown-Hell's Kitchenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Organizers boasted that the St. George route will help commuters from Staten Island to Midtown save about 20 minutes each way, compared to the existing MTA Express Bus or the Staten Island Ferry and subway.

Ferry tickets are available from machines at each landing or on the NYC Ferry smartphone app. The system is operated by the private company Hornblower, whose contract with the city has attracted scrutiny for its high costs.

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