The first direct boat connection between Brooklyn and Staten Island entered service December 8, 2025, part of a redesigned NYC Ferry system map that the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) rolled out after years of advocacy from officials in both boroughs.

The reworked St. George route links Staten Island to a string of Brooklyn stops — Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Red Hook and Brooklyn Bridge Park — and continues to Manhattan landings, letting riders cross between the two boroughs without transferring for the first time. The fare is the system’s standard $4 one-way.

What the redesign does

NYCEDC, which oversees the fare-charging NYC Ferry network, said the optimized map followed a survey of more than 15,000 riders and was aimed at matching service to demand. The headline change is the Brooklyn–Staten Island link, long sought by elected officials who noted that residents of the two boroughs — geographically close but separated by the harbor — had no direct transit connection short of a long drive over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge or a circuitous subway-and-ferry trip through Manhattan.

The St. George route ties Staten Island into the broader network reaching Wall Street/Pier 11, Brooklyn and Manhattan’s West Side. NYCEDC framed the redesign as a system-wide optimization rather than a simple add-on, adjusting routes and stops across the network.

Not the Staten Island Ferry

The new service is distinct from the Staten Island Ferry, the free, city-operated boat that has run between St. George and Lower Manhattan’s Whitehall Terminal for more than a century and carries far higher volumes. NYC Ferry is a separate system, launched in 2017, that charges a fare and uses smaller vessels on commuter and waterfront routes. The two share the St. George terminal but serve different trips.

A summer pilot ahead

NYCEDC said it would pilot additional South Brooklyn weekend service in the summer of 2026, extending the new route further toward Bay Ridge and Sunset Park to test demand on the southern leg. The agency cast the December launch as the start of a longer effort to reshape ferry service in the harbor.

Why it matters

For South Brooklyn and Staten Island, both poorly served by the subway, a waterfront option is a meaningful addition — though NYC Ferry has long drawn scrutiny over the size of the public subsidy behind each ride relative to its ridership. The direct Brooklyn–Staten Island connection answers a specific, long-standing gap in the transit map; whether the summer 2026 pilot finds enough riders to justify permanent expansion is the next test.

Verification

  • Optimized NYC Ferry map launched Dec. 8, 2025; first direct Brooklyn–Staten Island route; stops at Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park — Gothamist
  • NYCEDC redesign; surveyed 15,000+ riders; St. George connects to Wall Street/Pier 11, Brooklyn, West Side — NYCEDC press release
  • $4 one-way fare; St. George route — NYC Ferry: St. George route
  • Summer 2026 South Brooklyn weekend pilot to Bay Ridge and Sunset Park — NYC Ferry blog: Big Changes Coming
  • Free Staten Island Ferry between St. George and Whitehall is a separate city-run service — Staten Island Ferry, Wikipedia

Frequently Asked Questions

What changed on NYC Ferry on December 8, 2025?
NYCEDC launched an optimized system map that, for the first time, connects Brooklyn and Staten Island directly by boat. The new St. George route serves stops including Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Red Hook and Brooklyn Bridge Park.
How much does an NYC Ferry ride cost?
The standard one-way fare is $4. NYC Ferry is a city-run system overseen by the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), separate from the free Staten Island Ferry between St. George and Lower Manhattan.
Is this the same as the Staten Island Ferry?
No. The Staten Island Ferry is the free, city-operated boat between St. George and Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan. The new direct Brooklyn–Staten Island service is part of the separate, fare-charging NYC Ferry network.
What's planned for 2026?
NYCEDC plans a summer 2026 weekend pilot extending South Brooklyn service further to Bay Ridge and Sunset Park.