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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                   MAY 29, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 22

             New York Expands Ferry Network Ahead

                                       of 2026 FIFA World Cup

             The Mamdani administration is rolling out the largest summer ferry schedule in city history as New York
               prepares for millions of visitors during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and a packed season of major events.

            NEERAJ DHAR                                                                                           and holidays.
                                                                                                                      Both services will cost $12 per per-
            New York, NY
                                                                                                                  son, while non-reserved seating will
                  he administration of Zohran                                                                     remain available on standard Rocka-
                  Kwame Mamdani has an-                                                                           way-Soundview ferries.
            Tnounced  the  most  extensive                                                                           The city says demand for these
            summer  service  expansion  ever  for                                                                 services has grown sharply. In 2025,
            NYC Ferry, unveiling additional ves-                                                                  Rockaway Reserve sold nearly 30,000
            sels, more frequent routes and special                                                                tickets and generated more than
            beach-bound services ahead of what                                                                    $360,000 in revenue, while Rockaway
            officials expect will be one of the busi-                                                             Rocket sold over 17,000 tickets. Offi-
            est summers in the city’s history.                                                                    cials reported that average daily Rock-
                The  expanded  2026  summer  fer-                                                                 away Rocket sales increased 19 per-
            ry schedule, which began this week                                                                    cent compared with the previous year.
            and will continue through Sept. 13, is                                                                    NYCEDC Interim President and
            part of a broader effort by City Hall to                                                              CEO  Jeanny  Pak  said  the  expanded
            strengthen transportation infrastruc-                                                                 service would help both residents and
            ture before the arrival of international                                                              tourists navigate the city more efficient-
            visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.                                                                 ly during a crowded summer season.
            Officials  say  the  new  schedule  is  de-                                                              The ferry initiative is closely tied to
            signed to reduce wait times, improve                                                                  broader transportation improvements
            connections  between  boroughs  and                                                                   now  underway  across  the  city.  The
            support the growing popularity of fer-                                                                Mamdani administration has already
            ry travel across the city.                                                                            announced street redesigns near the
                Mayor Mamdani described the                                                                       Brooklyn Bridge, expanded bike infra-
            expansion  as  part  of  a  larger  urban                                                             structure in Manhattan and new bus
            mobility strategy tied to New York’s                                                                  lanes connecting Queens to LaGuar-
            preparations for global events and ris-                                                               dia Airport. Together, officials say, the
            ing commuter demand.                                                                                  projects are intended to ease conges-
               “The world is coming to New York                                                                   tion and create alternative transit op-
            City — and New York City is ready,”                                                                   tions during the World Cup period.
            the mayor said while launching the                                                                        NYC  Ferry  Executive  Director
            new summer service. “We are invest-                                                                   James Wong said the city is preparing
            ing in the infrastructure that keeps this                                                             for an unusually intense convergence
            city moving.”                                                                                         of tourism, sporting events and sea-
                Alongside  the  service  expansion,  tem’s history.             tors exploring and more economic ac-  sonal travel.
            the  administration  unveiled  five  spe-  To  accommodate  expected  de- tivity reaching communities across all   “With the FIFA World Cup, Sail4th
            cially wrapped NYC Ferry vessels   mand, the city is increasing weekend  five boroughs.”              250 and another busy beach season all
            carrying World Cup-inspired artwork  ferry trips, deploying larger vessels   One of the most notable elements   converging in summer 2026, visitors
            representing the identity and diversity   on heavily used routes and expanding  of the summer plan is the return of res-  will have plenty of opportunities to
            of each of the city’s five boroughs. The   high-frequency  beach  services.  Of- ervable ferry services to the Rockaway  explore  New  York  Harbor  alongside
            ferries will operate across New York  ficials  say  the  goal  is  to  provide  fast- beaches. The city is bringing back both   New Yorkers,” Wong said.
            Harbor throughout the summer season.  er and more reliable transportation  the Rockaway Reserve and Rockaway   The ferry system itself has become
                The new schedule reflects growing   during a summer expected to feature  Rocket programs, which were highly  a major component of the city’s pub-
            pressure on the city’s transportation   not only World Cup crowds but also   popular during previous summers.  lic transportation network. Operating
            network as tourism, recreational trav-  major events such as Sail4th 250 cele-  Beginning May 23, passengers   across 70 nautical miles with 38 vessels,
            el and daily commuting continue to   brations and July Fourth festivities.  will once again be able to reserve seats   six routes and 25 landings, NYC Ferry
            rebound strongly. Ferry ridership has   Deputy Mayor for Economic Jus- on select departures between Wall   is now the largest passenger-only ferry
            surged over the past two years, with   tice Julie Su said the increase in ferry  Street’s Pier 11 and Rockaway. Later  fleet in the United States.
            the East River route recently record-  operations  is  also  expected  to  stimu- in the summer, the Rockaway Rocket   Brooklyn Borough President An-
            ing its two busiest days ever, surpassing   late economic activity across neighbor- will resume direct express service from   tonio Reynoso said the expanded ferry
            40,000 boardings in a single weekend.  hoods in all five boroughs.  Long Island City and Greenpoint to   operations would allow  more resi-
                Last summer, NYC Ferry also set   “We’re putting more vessels on the  the beaches. The premium services   dents to participate in World Cup-re-
            records for daily, weekly and monthly   water because this summer demands  are aimed at reducing overcrowd-  lated activities across the city while
            ridership, with August 2025 becoming   it,” she said. “More service means   ing while improving convenience for  improving everyday transit access for
            the highest ridership month in the sys-  more New Yorkers moving, more visi- beachgoers during peak weekends   local communities.

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