Jersey City has announced the revival of ferry service from Port Liberté to Manhattan at a discounted price and with free transportation to the terminal.
Mayor Steven Fulop partnered with City Council members, the Department of Infrastructure, and New York Waterway to re-open the Port Liberté Ferry Terminal, which had been closed since the start of the pandemic.
The Department of Transportation provided a $4 million grant, allowing for ferry services to be reintroduced with a 40% discount on travel rates. Grant funding will also provide free rides to and from the ferry terminal through Via, the city’s on-demand transit system. New Citi Bike stations will be built in Greenville and Bergen-Lafayette neighborhoods and at the terminal. The Port Liberté terminal will wave bike carry-on fees.
Through the Request for Proposal process, New York Waterway was selected to provide weekday services. President and CEO Armand Pohan said the company is delighted by the revival of these services.
“As the region continues to emerge from the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to connect Jersey City communities to NYC with a transportation option that keeps cars and buses off bridges and tunnels,” Pohan said.
The focus of this project, according to the Mayor’s Office, is to provide affordable and efficient transportation to low-income and minority populations. Expanding access to Manhattan will provide greater access to jobs, healthcare, and education.
“We are committed to making Jersey City a place where everyone can thrive, and expanding mobility is a key part of that effort,” Mayor Fulop said.
Over 70,000 residents live within walking distance of the Port Liberté terminal, and with added access to the ferry, ridership is expected to spike from previous numbers.
For more information visit NYwaterway.com/Liberte.