Lower East Side Ferry Route Permanently Reconfigured Due to Poor Ridership
Spring and summer usually see peak ridership for the city’s nascent ferry system. However, as with everything else these days, the novel coronavirus got in the way.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the NYC Ferry program is reducing service by an additional 20-percent. Three routes are permanently reconfigured, including the Corlears Hook line, which services the Lower East Side. Effective this past Monday, the local landing off Grand Street will instead serve the South Brooklyn route, docking at DUMBO, Atlantic Avenue, Red Hook, Sunset Park, and Bay Ridge.
Other affected lines include South Brooklyn and Soundview.
Meanwhile, the city-run NYC Ferry had already reduced service by roughly 30-percent since March 23 in response to low ridership related to the COVID-19 pause.
In all, these new cuts will save the city some $10 million.