Full Steam Ahead: Mayor Announces Aug. 16 Return of Overnight Staten Island Ferry Service

By Yehudit Garmaise

     Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this morning that he bringing back overnight service, and additional daytime trips, as well: every 30 minutes, 24/7, for the Staten Island Ferry on Monday, Aug. 16.

     Along with so many other perks of New York City that had to be cut back during COVID, the frequency of the Staten Island Ferry was, as well.

     “Well, it's time to bring it back fully,” said the mayor, who said that the overnight service started during his administration. “What's better to do on a summer day than take the Staten Island ferry and see those beautiful views?

     “It is happening, amazing, wonderful things happening out in the streets of our city. A sense of celebration, a sense of hope and possibility. Those are the things that are coming back in New York City.”

     “The Staten Island Ferry is a lifeline for Staten Islanders. It is the way that people connect to so many things. We will be bringing that back.”

     In addition to being a crucial service for Staten Islanders, the mayor pointed out that the ferry “happens to be one of the great attractions of the city, an amazing part of New York City life, and an incredible tourist attraction.”

     This morning, Staten Island Borough President Jimmy Oddo, who, in 2013, authored the bill that mandated overnight service for the Staten Island Ferry, said that the return of 24/7  service for the ferry “is part of what 'our recovery for all of us' looks like.”

    “We are well into now the ‘Summer of New York City,’” agreed Mayor de Blasio.

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.