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The best seat on your commute may soon cost 50 cents more. The NYC Ferry’s one-way fare could rise from $4.50 to $5 as soon as October 19, if the board of the New York City Economic Development Corporation approves a package of changes at its meeting this week. The fare proposal is on the board’s published agenda.
Here’s what riders would pay if it passes: a 10-trip pass would increase from $29 to $30, while a discounted one-way ticket would edge up from $1.45 to $1.50. The $15 unlimited two-day ticket would stick around at the same price. Introduced as a pilot last year, it would become a permanent option. None of these changes are final until the board votes.
For regular riders, the proposed increases land differently. The single ticket would cost 50 cents more (about 11-percent above today’s fare). The 10-trip pass would rise by $1 overall, bringing each ride to $3. That’s still cheaper per trip than buying single tickets, as long as you use all 10.
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This would be the ferry’s second fare increase in just over two years. The one-way price went from $4 to $4.50 in September 2024, when the city also expanded student discounts beyond the New York Harbor School on Governors Island. (When NYC Ferry launched in 2017, a ride cost $2.75.)
The boats offer a hard-to-beat view, but that view has long come with a public subsidy. According to EDC figures cited by The City Reporter, the subsidy was $8.33 per rider in 2025. The agency says that was the system’s lowest yet; critics still question how much the city should spend to keep fares down, particularly when many riders use the service for trips other than commuting.
There are plenty of riders to consider. EDC data shows more than 7.3 million boardings between July 2025 and July 2026. The system also set a one-day record of 56,882 boardings on August 15. For now, though, keep paying the current fare—and keep an eye on Wednesday’s vote before budgeting for your next trip across the harbor.