69th Street Pier Ferry To Set Sail This Summer

The long wait is almost over for Southern Brooklyn residents looking for an alternate way to commute into Manhattan.

According to a message posted on Change.org by Justin Brannan, the organizer of the “Bring Back the Bay Ridge Ferry” petition, construction for a new ferry slip will soon begin at the 69th Street Pier in Bay Ridge with ferry service expected to start as early as the summer.

The South Brooklyn route of the Citywide Ferry Service will connect Southern Brooklyn neighborhoods to the Financial District and Midtown Manhattan. The approximate travel time from Bay Ridge to Wall Street’s Pier 11 is estimated at 43 minutes.

Starting at the 69th Street Pier, the ferry will make stops at the Brooklyn Army Terminal (58th Street), Red Hook, Atlantic Avenue (Pier 6), DUMBO (Pier 1), and then cross the East River to Wall Street in Lower Manhattan.

In 2012, then Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz proposed that the expansion of the city ferry service connect Manhattan to Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay, and the Canarsie Pier as well. A 2013 Citywide Ferry Study examining 60 sites around the city to determine their potential to host ferry service nixed Markowitz’s idea.

According to the Citywide Ferry website, the final stops were selected based on ridership potential, navigability, and infrastructure needs. “Routes were developed to effectively serve these locations while considering total ridership potential, financial viability, and transit equity.”

The fare for a ferry ride will be the same as the subway and bus at $2.75, with passengers being able to pay using cash, credit card, or smartphone. The Wi-Fi-equipped, ADA-accessible, stroller-friendly ferries will have food and drinks available for purchase and special ticketing for passengers who want bring their bikes onboard.