NYCEDC Launches NYC Ferry Harbor School Pilot Program Offering Discounted Ferry Tickets for Students
Harbor School Pilot Program Now Taking Applications for Discounted NYC Ferry Tickets for Eligible Students
NYC Ferry Continues Ferry Forward Plan to Make the Ferry System More Equitable and Accessible for All New Yorkers
GOVERNORS ISLAND, NY—Today, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and NYC Ferry announced a pilot discount program for Urban Assembly New York Harbor School students. The pilot program will allow eligible students to purchase tickets for $1.35. Applications for the program went live on the ferry.nyc/discount website today, and the program will go into effect immediately. Once applications are approved, Urban Assembly New York Harbor School students can purchase discounted tickets directly in the NYC Ferry app, at Pier 11, and at their school on select school days.
The New York Harbor School pilot program will run through the end of the 2022-2023 school year, and again for the full 2023-2024 school year. The Citywide rollout to provide all eligible New York City high school students with discounted fares will start in September 2024, as per recently passed City Council legislation sponsored by Council Member Amanda Farías.
“This new pilot program represents an exciting step forward following our “NYC Ferry Forward” plan to make the system more equitable, accessible, and fiscally sustainable,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We want all New Yorkers to have choices about how to get around, and expanding our ferry discount program to eligible Harbor School students will give more young people access to this system and another way to get to school. And we’re excited to go even bigger next year by expanding the ferry discount program to every high school in New York City.”
“The discounted ferry fare program is a wonderful initiative and evidence of good policies that result from thoughtful legislation,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. Special thanks to Council Member Farías for making this bill a reality. Transportation to school should be reliable, efficient, and affordable, and I am confident that this pilot will show the importance of ferry-based transit for high school students in New York City.”
“We want all New York high school students to be able to get to school at a reasonable price,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “Former Urban Assembly New York Harbor School students are employed at every level of the NYC Ferry operation, and I am so proud that we are able to offer this program to the next generation of maritime job seekers. As we continue the next phase of NYC Ferry, I want to thank Council Member Farías for her partnership as we continue to find innovative ways to make the ferry system more equitable and accessible for all New Yorkers. This pilot program does just that!”
“It is essential that NYC Ferry stays affordable for the everyday New Yorkers who use and rely on it the most. That is why I worked hard to pass Intro 236 through the City Council last month to get half-price tickets to the students we know are currently relying on the ferry the most, further advancing transit equity citywide,” said Councilmember Amanda Farías. “I’m excited to have worked with NYCEDC and Mayor Adams to ensure Harbor School students see immediate benefit through this pilot ensuring students who advocated for Intro 236 themselves get to have discounted rides to and from school! This pilot will help us to ensure our citywide rollout next year is efficient and seamless for all NYC students. Thank you to Mayor Eric Adams and President Andrew Kimball for your partnership and all the students and staff at the Harbor School for your continued advocacy. I am excited to see that our students at the Harbor School will be the first to get to ride for $1.35.”
“Affordable ferry access is crucial for our high school students, and the Harbor School is the perfect place to pilot this program,” said Councilmember Christopher Marte. “The same way the MTA provides Student Metrocards, we need to make sure that all of New York City's robust public transit systems are accessible to the students that use them every day. The Harbor School provides a unique and invaluable maritime curriculum to high school students from across the city, and now transportation costs will be less of a burden for students who need the ferry system to get to class. Thank you to Council Member Farías and EDC for stewarding this program, and I look forward to its expansion to all eligible high school students.”
“I'm thrilled for the launch of the discount pilot program for the New York Harbor School students. The debut of this program is made possible by the New York City Economic Development Corporation in partnership with NYC Ferry giving students tickets at just $1.35,” said Assembly Assistant Majority Leader Charles D. Fall. “This is an exciting venture because through the trials of this program, NYC Ferry will begin to roll out the program at a citywide level in 2024 giving all eligible New York City High School students the opportunity to travel with discounted fares. I commend the leadership at NYCEDC and the NYC Ferry for advancing this pilot program that will prove to be beneficial to so many high school students across New York City.”
“I am glad to see that New York Harbor School students will now be able to ride the ferry at a discounted price, and I thank the New York City Economic Development Corporation and NYC Ferry for their work to develop and launch this pilot program,” said State Senator Brian Kavanagh. “Transportation to and from school should be accessible and affordable--and ideally free of charge--for every NYC student. This is a step in the right direction.”
“The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School students and families will benefit greatly from this cost-cutting opportunity to ride the NYC Ferry to and from school each day,” said Jeffrey Chetirko, Urban Assembly New York Harbor School. “Thanks to NYCEDC, President/CEO Andrew Kimball, Council Member Amanda Farías, and our own student advocates in the Marine Affairs and Policy, Advocacy (MAPA) CTE Program, our NY Harbor School students will pilot an equity-driven program, which will one day provide eligible NYC Public School students an opportunity to ride the NYC Ferry at a reduced cost. We do not only see the NYC Ferry system as a transportation option to our Governors Island learning environment, but we also see it as the invested vehicle for providing social mobility to NYC young adults.”
“Reduced fares are essential for New York City students, regardless of if they commute via train, bus, or ferry,” said Shawn Garcia, Uptown and Bronx Organizer for Transportation Alternatives. “We’re grateful that ferries will become more accessible for students, and we're looking forward to seeing this program rollout in all five boroughs next year. Ferries are especially critical in transit deserts, and a more affordable ride for students is a key step towards a more equitable public transit system.”
“Over one year ago, we were thrilled to join NYC Ferry to announce expanded options for New Yorkers to travel to Governors Island via their South Brooklyn Route,” said Clare Newman, President and CEO, The Trust for Governors Island. “NYC Ferry has increased connectivity to Governors Island not only for our 1M annual visitors, but for students at the Harbor School to get to class. With NYC Ferry’s new fare discount program, their service will be even more accessible to students utilizing Governors Island and the Harbor as their classroom.
“As the founding operator of NYC Ferry, Hornblower Group works alongside NYCEDC and the New York Harbor School to inspire NYC’s future mariners, including the many local graduates currently serving in exciting careers across our crew,” said Timothy O’Brien, SVP of Ferries and Transportation, Hornblower Group. “We are proud to help launch this student discount pilot and build on Mayor Adams’ leadership under the Ferry Forward Plan to provide Harbor School students from across New York City with an even more accessible and convenient commute onboard NYC Ferry.”
Located on Governors Island, Urban Assembly New York Harbor School students are reliant on either NYC Ferry via the South Brooklyn route or the Governors Island Ferry via Lower Manhattan to get to and from school every day.
The pilot program will allow NYCEDC to assess the program roll-out by gathering data on ticket purchasing habits, how students and families find the application process, and to test out additional procedures before the discount program is rolled out to all NYC high school students in September 2024. The pilot program is expected to be low or no-cost to the ferry system and NYCEDC and NYC Ferry’s goal is to increase student use of NYC Ferry to get to and from school.
This program supports the “NYC Ferry Forward” plan, an initiative launched in July 2022 to create a more equitable, accessible, and fiscally sustainable NYC Ferry system. The plan includes a new NYC Ferry Discount Program, which offers access to $1.35 ferry tickets for seniors 65-years and older, people with disabilities, and participants in the Fair Fares NYC program. Starting in September 2024, all high school students in New York City will be able to apply for the program to receive $1.35 tickets.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity, build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
