‘Save the Ferry’ rally planned ahead of MTA board meeting
The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry was believed to be one of the oldest running ferries in the United States, dating back to 1743.
Up until the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge was completed in 1963, local residents would take the ferry across the river regularly to shop, visit friends, go to the movies, and just hang out.
As of recently, the ferry’s oft-limited schedule coincided with the peak Metro North train schedule, running only weekdays, Mondays through Fridays. It did not run on weekends, but for commuters to New York City, especially for those who moved north during the pandemic, it was a convenient way to get to work without needing a car. A one-way fare was $1.75.
This past winter, ice damaged the ferry’s dock in Beacon, and riders had to utilize a bus to commute over the Newburgh-Beacon bridge.
The dock has yet to be repaired, and now, citing high costs and low ridership, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will terminate the Newburgh-Beacon ferry service completely. The cross-river bus shuttle will continue.
“The closure of the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry is yet another example of our Hudson Valley community paying into a NYC-centric system and getting almost nothing in return,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “The MTA should be adding more transit options and lowering costs, not taking away the limited options we do have.
“The MTA discontinuing this ferry service is a reckless abandonment of the people it’s supposed to serve, turning its back on our community while happily taking our tax dollars,” Rep. Ryan continued. “Hudson Valley commuters deserve better than this betrayal of public trust and I’ll fight like hell to get this service restored.”
The Dutchess County Legislature also recently sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul’s office to express their “strong opposition” to the MTA’s decision to shut down the ferry service. “This decision was hastily made without any meaningful public input,” the letter reads. “The MTA must cease to treat the Hudson Valley like an afterthought. Our constituents expect the full benefit of the services they pay for.”
On Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 6:30pm, a “Save the Beacon-Newburgh Ferry” rally will take place on the dock in Beacon.
The MTA board will meet on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 9am. There will be 60 minutes of public comment scheduled. The registration window to comment opens 35 minutes before the beginning of the board meeting and closes 5 minutes before it begins. Use this link to register to speak at the MTA's July 2025 Board meeting. Registration will be open between 8:25 and 8:55am on Wednesday, July 30. https://www.mta.info/transparency/board-and-committee-meetings/july-2025
Newburgh ferry "Dutchess" moving through ice on the Hudson River, late winter. Donald C. Ringwald Collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum.
Ferry finds itself frozen, once again
Ice has often been a problem for ferries traversing on the Hudson River. It has even been said that the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge opened early after ferries were getting stuck in the ice on the Hudson River, causing commuters to continuously be late for work.
In one particular story, according to the Hudson River Maritime Museum, in the early 1950's, the ferry got stuck in the ice on its 11:30pm return trip to Beacon. Betty Carey remembers the story of one passenger who was stranded on the boat until rescued the next morning. “They had a great time!” Mrs. Carey said of her babysitter who was stuck on the ferry overnight after a night of rollerskating in Newburgh. Hear the story from the Hudson River Maritime Museum:
(Today, the Coast Guard’s icebreakers ensure waterways stay clear of ice so vessels can continue on their voyage. )
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