The Haverstraw/Ossining NY Waterways Ferry: Take a Ride
Take a ride on the Haverstraw/Ossining NY Waterways Ferry
The Haverstraw-Ossining ferry is normally used by commuters during the week, but this summer some local residents are using it much more frequently.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched a pilot program in May that includes deep discounts for passengers and a number of expanded services, including ferry service between Haverstraw and Ossining on Saturdays and Sundays, a program that expands options for those traveling to and from weekend activities.
“It’s exciting to see riders’ enthusiasm for this fantastic new weekend service that gets people out of their cars and on to the scenic Hudson River,” said Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi in the MTA’s latest program update.
The pilot project, which runs through Veterans Day, has gained traction since its launch. According to the MTA, the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry averaged 240 trips per day the weekend the program began in the spring. In July, it averaged 455 trips per day, with a record high of 822 trips on Sunday, July 21.
The uptick indicates a growing interest in the ferry among community members. I was curious to see how people were using the new weekend service, so I packed my sunscreen, water bottle, and my best cat-eye sunglasses to find out what the weekend ferry was all about.
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From weekday commuting to weekend fun on the Hudson
“This is my Titanic moment,” I thought to myself.
I considered climbing up onto the bars of the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry and stretching out my arms like Rose did in that famous scene, wondering how quickly my clumsiness would cause me to fall from the boat into the Hudson.
Just minutes earlier, the ferry had departed from the Ossining deck, where it picked up families, couples, and a group of cyclists for the ride to Haverstraw. Some passengers headed to the enclosed seats where they watched through the windows as we sped across the river. Others, like me, were drawn to the deck where we could see the scenic hills of Hook Mountain State Park and feel the wind in our wings. (Or in my case, my dress.)
Luckily, a couple from Colombia got there before me. They also compared the trip to the Titanic and quickly made themselves comfortable on the deck, just like Jack and Rose.
The couple – Karol Castillo and Jorge Buritica of Colombia – said they chose the ferry to visit family in Haverstraw. It was their first visit on a ferry, they said.
“It’s a different mode of transportation,” said Castillo. “Here you can drive across the Hudson River,” noting how nice it is to be on the river instead of being locked in a car.
By bike from Sleepy Hollow via Haverstraw to Nyack and back
When I boarded the Peter R. Weiss ferry, which departed as scheduled at 11:42 a.m., other passengers were also on board with large items such as strollers and bicycles. Dozens of people had bikes with them that day; members of the Bike Tarrytown group had gathered in Sleepy Hollow to ride bikes to Haverstraw and back, incorporating the ferry into their nearly 20-mile route.
“I thought this would be fun,” said Daniel Convissor, director of Bike Tarrytown. “We can take the ferry and go for a spin, bring some friends and have a nice day.”
Convissor told me his ferry ride was “wonderful.”
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The ferry docked in Haverstraw, dropped off the bikers, and welcomed new passengers. These people were a little quieter; no one was standing on the deck pretending to be in Titanic, for example. Still, passengers used the ferry for fun activities.
“We’re going to explore Bryant Park,” said Ayo Johnson, a Rockland County resident. “And then we’re going to head to the best Thai restaurant in town.”
Johnson and her friends took the ferry from Haverstraw to get to Grand Central Terminal on Metro-North, just like commuters do. For Johnson, however, the ferry was a “good alternative,” she said, to the “stressful” drive to New York City.
On weekdays, the ferry has long been an efficient and cost-effective alternative to driving into the city. There are reduced monthly passes for residents who would otherwise have to pay varying toll and parking fees in the city.
For example, driving along I-87 from Haverstraw into the city would cost a driver with a New York State E-ZPass $7.50 per trip, or $13.13 for those without a New York State E-ZPass, plus New York City parking fees. With a congestion charge, that cost for commuters would have increased by $15 per trip into the city. (The congestion charge program was suspended in early June.)
In comparison, the cost for an adult taking the ferry from Haverstraw and also using a Metro-North ride to Grand Central Terminal is a total of $15.75 per ride during off-peak hours and $19.75 during peak hours.
All in all, the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry seemed ideal for people looking to indulge in some weekend fun without the stress and complications of driving. As Convissor said, it seems like a “wonderful” alternative.
Everything else you need to know to try the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry
Locations: To board the ferry in Haverstraw, use the Haverstraw Ferry Terminal, located at 30-34 Dr. Girling Drive on US Route 9W. To board the ferry in Ossining, use the Ossining Dock, located at 1 Main Street and Westerly Road, just west of the Ossining Metro-North train station.
Dates: The Haverstraw-Ossining ferry service operates between 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Ferries from Haverstraw depart approximately once per hour at 9:21 a.m., 10:21 a.m., etc. Ferries from Ossining also depart approximately once per hour at 9:42 a.m., 10:42 a.m., etc. For exact times, see the detailed weekend schedule at new.mta.info/document/140246.
Tickets: A single ride costs $4.50 for adults, $2.25 for seniors (62 or older), people with disabilities, and Medicare recipients with appropriate ID, $2.25 for children ages 6-11, and is free for children ages 5 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the NY Waterway ticket booth in Haverstraw or through the NY Waterway app.
Reduced monthly passes are available through the pilot program.
For more information about the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry pilot service on weekends: Check out the MTA website at bit.ly/3Ahyr03.
Samantha Antrum is the local news and public affairs reporter for The Journal News/lohud. She covers cultural and social justice issues and events. Reach her at [email protected].
