Bye-Bye $2.75 Ferry Rides, NYC Boat Fee Bumped To $4

NEW YORK CITY — Say "bon voyage" to $2.75 NYC Ferry rides.

Ferry fares soon will be $4 starting in September, Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday from the Astoria waterfront.

But Adams said the fare hike won't strand lower-income New Yorkers, regular ferry riders and many others who can take advantage of riding the waves around the city.

The price increase is designed to affect "occasional" riders such as tourists to offset the cost for everyday New Yorkers who regularly ride ferries, as well as keep the entire system afloat, he said.

“Equal is not equitable,” he said.

The new ferry plan unveiled by Adams — officially dubbed "NYC Ferry Forward" — does include what could be a significant price cut for a wide swath of New Yorkers.

At least 1 million New Yorkers will qualify for $1.35 per ride fares under a new NYC Ferry Discount modeled after the city's Fair Fares program, according to the plan. Eligible New Yorkers include low-income riders, seniors and people with disabilities.

The fare changes follow a scathing audit released last week by City Comptroller Brad Lander that found officials underreported the system's cost by $224 million as former Mayor Bill de Blasio pushed for $2.75 fares across the board.

The low ferry fare — which is in line with MTA subway rides — was designed to make skimming along the water attractive for all New Yorkers, but critics noted the system largely serviced affluent communities along the water.

Lander's audit raised questions whether the low fare could keep the ferry system viable, especially since it found the city's subsidy came out to $12.88 per passenger's boat ride.

Andrew Kimball, the president and CEO of the city's Economic Development Corporation, which oversees the ferry system, promised more transparency in ridership and financial information in "coming days."

"These exciting changes to our system we believe will attract new riders, reduce our subsidy and make our system more financially sustainable," he said.

Other changes include the end of a $1 fee for bringing bicycles onto ferries.

NYCHA residents will receive two free NYC Ferry app tickets in coming days and weeks, and mailers about the discount program are going out to 60 developments about 1 mile from ferry landings, officials said.

Regular riders can still get the traditional $2.75 fare if they purchase a 10-trip pack for $27.50, said Andrew Kimball, the president and CEO of the city's Economic Development Corporation, which oversees the ferry system.

Adams also said the city will launch the "Rockaway Rocket," a reservation-only ferry directly to the Rockaway beaches, starting July 23.

"We're going to reduce the crowds on the ferries, take cars off the road and have people take a nice smooth ride to the beach out in the Rockaways to help out economy out there and really stop the overcrowding on our A line in the subway session system," he said.

The Rockaway Rocket will run from Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan to Rockaway on summer weekends and holiday until Labor Day weekend, officials said.