Ryan Blasts MTA over Plan to end Newburgh-Beacon Ferry Service

U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan is calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to immediately reverse its decision to permanently discontinue the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry, calling the move a “reckless …

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Ryan Blasts MTA over Plan to end Newburgh-Beacon Ferry Service

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U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan is calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to immediately reverse its decision to permanently discontinue the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry, calling the move a “reckless abandonment” of Hudson Valley commuters and a blow to the region’s economy.

The MTA confirmed it will not restore the cross-Hudson ferry service, which has been suspended since January following damage to the Beacon dock. A shuttle bus replacement will continue operating through the end of 2025. The agency cited declining ridership and high operating costs as the primary reasons for ending the ferry service.

Ryan, a Democrat representing New York’s 18th Congressional District, joined residents Tuesday evening at the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry Dock to protest the decision and hear directly from community members concerned about commuter accessibility, tourism, and economic development.

“The MTA discontinuing this ferry service is a reckless abandonment of the people it’s supposed to serve,” Ryan said in a statement. “They’re turning their back on our community while happily taking our tax dollars. Hudson Valley commuters deserve better than this betrayal of public trust.”

In a letter sent Tuesday to MTA CEO Janno Leiber, Ryan criticized the agency for what he called a decades-long pattern of neglecting the Hudson Valley. He highlighted the lack of Metro-North stations in Ulster County, the absence of one-seat service from Orange County to New York City, and limited service in Dutchess County as ongoing inequities.

The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry provided a vital link between Orange and Dutchess counties, giving commuters access to Metro-North’s Hudson Line in Beacon. Ryan and other critics argue that discontinuing the ferry cuts off a key transportation option, disrupts commuting patterns, and hampers tourism and regional economic growth.

“MTA should be adding more transit options and lowering costs, not taking away the limited options we do have,” Ryan said.

The congressman also slammed the MTA for failing to offer a long-term replacement plan for the ferry service and accused the agency of acting without sufficient public input or accountability.

The MTA had not publicly responded to Ryan’s letter as of presstime.