🔴 LIVE: Hearing on the NYC Ferry System

The New York City Council’s joint Committees on Economic Development and Transportation and Infrastructure held a hearing on the NYC Ferry system and other city waterfront operations on October 21, 2026. Procurement and operating costs were central topics: NYC Ferry’s private operating agreement is worth up to $405 million and expires in September 2028, making the next contract a major upcoming decision. EDC said it has not determined the structure of the next RFP and will review whether to retain a system-wide operator, divide service by routes, or consider private operators and other models. The hearing took no votes; Council members requested copies of contracts and additional operating, safety, and financial information. EDC reported FY2025 operating costs of $88 million and revenue of about $27 million, while its finalized FY2026 subsidy was $8.79 per rider. The base fare had risen from $4.50 to $5 the day before the hearing.

Council members and EDC discussed bills proposing ferry service or feasibility work at Canarsie Pier, Willets Point, West 125th Street, and City Island. EDC opposed the bills as written and said its citywide vision study, expected in summer 2027, would assess more than 40 sites and alternative service models. EDC cited potential expansion costs of $25–30 million annually for up to four new routes, with capital costs potentially reaching hundreds of millions; it also cited a preliminary $26 million estimate for two vessels to serve West 125th Street and an earlier estimate of roughly $30 million to rehabilitate Canarsie Pier. Other capital work discussed included vessel engine replacements and terminal and waterfront improvements. The hearing also examined seaplane and party-boat oversight, accessibility and safety concerns, and Blue Highways freight pilots; no procurement awards or spending approvals were made.