Manhattan Cruise Terminal Master Plan

The Manhattan Cruise Terminal (MCT) Master Plan process provides an opportunity to understand how a transformation of MCT into a future-ready terminal can meet the needs of its users and the local community.

The Manhattan Cruise Terminal has been a critical waterfront asset for New York City since the terminal first opened in 1935. Almost a century later, cruise activity continues to fuel the economy, amounting to over $458 million in economic impact and supporting thousands of jobs. Located on Manhattan’s Midtown West waterfront, the site is also adjacent to the West Side Highway, the Hudson River Greenway, and many critical community amenities and opportunities.

Project Goals

The MCT masterplan will establish a roadmap and rationale for extending the piers’ useful life for another 50 to 75 years, based on a 30-year planning horizon. The study will explore various development scenarios focused on short- and long-term capital investments in transportation, maritime, logistics and public spaces. These scenarios will help assess alternative approaches for modernizing and ensuring Manhattan Cruise Terminal remains an essential party of Manhattan’s waterfront.

The Process

Integrating community feedback on traffic and public realm improvements with technical analyses on cruise market analyses, traffic study, infrastructure needs, financial feasibility, this work will produce a guiding plan for investment at the terminal and a framework for future improvements.