Commuters in Brooklyn are about to get smoother rides and brand-new connections across the city’s waterways. For the first time , Brooklyn and Staten Island will be connected by ferry, part of a major redesign of the NYC Ferry system that takes effect Dec. 8, 2025.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) finalized the Ferry Optimization Plan, the city’s first system-wide route redesign since the service launched in 2017. The changes are designed to shorten commute times, improve efficiency, and make ferries a bigger part of New York City’s transportation network.

Under the new plan, South Brooklyn riders can look forward to a faster, one-seat ride straight to Midtown Manhattan, making the daily trip from Red Hook, Atlantic Avenue and Sunset Park more direct than ever before. The Soundview line from the Bronx will also merge with the Rockaway route, giving Bronx riders a one-seat trip to the beach while helping fill ferries that once ran nearly empty.

In addition, new ferry landings are being designed for East Harlem’s 125th Street and MADE-Bush Terminal in Sunset Park, expanding access for Brooklyn residents and workers in the growing industrial and creative hub. The city also plans to build a second ferry homeport in Red Hook to help support the growing fleet.

Officials say the redesign comes after receiving more than 15,000 public responses during the planning phase, with nearly 90% of riders saying they’ll ride the ferry the same or more often under the new map. The changes are part of a larger vision for the future of ferries in the New York Harbor, which will look at new service areas, better connections and long-term investments in waterfront transit.

Brooklyn’s waterfront is growing fast, and ferries are becoming a key part of keeping communities connected. With these new routes, the city hopes to make commuting faster, cut costs and open new opportunities across the harbor.

The NYC Ferry system now spans six routes, 25 landings and 38 vessels, carrying millions of riders each year. With these new changes, officials hope even more New Yorkers will see the ferry as a faster, more scenic way to get around the city.