Ferry Pilot Rekindles Hope for Permanent Return

By Journalist Dr. Ms. Jones

NEWBURGH – The Hudson River once again became a bridge between communities during a two-weekend pilot program that brought ferry service back between Newburgh and Beacon. With $1 one-way fares and scheduled crossings from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 3rd–4th and October 10th–11th, the pilot gave residents and visitors an opportunity to experience the crossing while renewing calls for a permanent return. For many passengers and advocates, the ferry represents more than a scenic ride; it offers another transportation option, an opportunity for local businesses and a connection between two communities separated by the river but closely linked in everyday life.
Paul Egel helped load passengers onto The Evening Star, the vessel used for the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry pilot. Egel, who works with the excursion vessel, advocates for public access to the Hudson River and believes the waterway’s history makes protecting that access especially important.

“This is the same river that Henry Hudson [sailed] on … and the same river that George Washington [crossed]. The same river that Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and Walt Whitman crossed,” Egel said, encouraging riders to support the ferry and protect public access to the Hudson.. “The river is yours, and it should be able to be accessed by the public… It’s not some corporations or the governments. It’s your river.”

For Mayor Harvey, the pilot connects to a larger vision for Newburgh’s waterfront and the proposed reconstruction of Newburgh Landing. Mayor Harvey joined Mayor Kyriacou for a ride during the first weekend and said a rebuilt dock could support ferry service, water taxis, and excursion vessels. However, the project remains stalled while the city awaits permits from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

“They said our dock design is too large,” Mayor Harvey said. “They said it doesn’t fit the size and scale of the other docks along the Hudson in the Mid-Hudson Valley.”

Mayor Harvey maintains that Newburgh’s deep-water access could create opportunities for larger vessels and additional tourism if the project moves forward. Mayor Harvey also said three cruise lines have expressed interest in doing business with the city, although those potential arrangements have not been independently confirmed.

“If we build a dock and we start construction, that ferry will run from our dock,” Mayor Harvey said, describing his vision for a future that could include private ferry operators and water taxis.

The modern commuter ferry began operating in 2005. Service was suspended in January 2025 after winter ice damaged the Beacon dock, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced in June that it would not resume service, citing low ridership and operating costs. MTA officials reported an average of 62 riders per day in 2024, with annual operating costs of approximately $2.1 million.

For Jessenia Diaz, a Bronx resident whose son lives in Beacon, the ferry could help address a transportation challenge she has experienced firsthand. Diaz said she recently became stranded in Newburgh and had to pay for an expensive cab ride. When the driver missed a turn, she missed her Metro-North train and had to wait another hour for the next one. “I think it deserves to be restored. I think a lot of people can really utilize it,” Diaz said. “There’s so many things to do [in Newburgh], so it brings commerce over.”

For Amanda Brown, a volunteer with the Save the Ferry Community Coalition since January, supporting the ferry combines her concern for climate change with her desire to become involved in her new community. After moving to the area about two years ago, Brown wanted to find local ways to make a difference on an issue that matters deeply to her.

“Climate change is an issue that’s very important to me, and I wanted to find ways of engaging locally,” Brown said. “[The ferry] a climate-friendly mode of transportation.”

Brown also sees the ferry as an example of how closely connected Newburgh and Beacon are, despite the river separating them. Brown believes the pilot can help make those connections more visible to elected officials and transportation decision-makers. Brown said scheduled crossings sold out throughout the pilot, although last-minute cancellations sometimes allowed passengers without advance tickets to board through a first-come, first-served standby system.

“After they use the ferry, we want them to spread the word, reach out to their elected officials, both on a local and state and regional level, and tell elected officials why the ferry is important,” Brown said. “The more people that communicate that the ferry is important, the better.”

For Newburgh and Beacon, the pilot offered a glimpse of what renewed cross-river service could mean for transportation, tourism, local businesses, and community connection.

Journalist Ms. Jones