The Orange County Legislature at their Ways and Means Committee meeting on Tuesday, July 29 approved a resolution in opposition of the decision to terminate the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry service. The Town of Newburgh recently passed a similar resolution opposing the decision.

Orange County Legislator Kevindaryán Luján presented the resolution on Tuesday, extending his thanks to Legislative Chairman Kevin Hines for allowing it to be brought to the floor and legislative council for their assistance in drafting. The resolution presented continues the efforts by local leaders to oppose the decision by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

The MTA announced it would be discontinuing the ferry following damage to the Beacon dock this past winter, with bus service now in place for commuters and travelers alike to reach the train station on the other side of the river. Local residents and their elected officials and representatives have gathered over the past month of July to advocate for a reconsideration of the decision on the discontinuation.

The City of Newburgh held a rally to Save the Ferry on July 8 at their dock along Water Street and in recent weeks, Beacon held its own rally on July 29, calling for the ferry to be brought back. On Wednesday, July 30, the MTA hosted a public session for people to comment further on the issue. Several area residents, some wearing Save The Ferry shirts, gave their testimony to the MTA on reinstating the service.

The Orange County Legislature will hold its next session on Thursday, August 7 starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Orange County Government Center at 255 Main Street in Goshen.

The resolution reads as follows: “Whereas, since 2005, the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry has served as a critical mode of transportation for residents of Orange and Dutchess Counties, connecting the City of Newburgh to the Metro-North Beacon Train Station and providing reliable access to jobs, education, healthcare, and essential services throughout the Hudson Valley and the greater New York City region; and Whereas, the ferry service has been a catalyst for regional economic growth by enhancing tourism, increasing foot traffic to local businesses, and supporting new development in the City of Newburgh and the surrounding communities; and Whereas, the City of Newburgh, a historic river community, has long relied on ferry service as an integral part of its transportation infrastructure and identity; and Whereas, the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry provides a scenic, efficient, and environmentally friendly commuting option that enhances the quality of life and attracts both residents and visitors; and Whereas, the City of Newburgh and Orange County has experienced a notable resurgence in recent years, with a wave of residential and commercial investment that underscores the growing need for improved and expanded transportation options, not reduced ones; and Whereas, providing and maintaining public transportation is a core function of government and critical to ensuring equitable access to opportunity and mobility for all citizens; and Whereas, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has announced plans to terminate the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry service, citing the necessity for dock repairs and a decline in ridership since the COVID-19 pandemic, despite having taken little or no action to enhance or promote the ferry system’s convenience, affordability, and visibility in the years since.”

The resolution continues while criticizing the MTA: “Whereas, the MTA has failed to provide opportunities to grow ridership, such as implementing fare-free pilot programs, expanding service to weekends, increasing frequency and reliability, offering easier payments systems, expand routes, improving signage, and undertaking local marketing campaigns in Newburgh and Beacon; and Whereas, the decision to terminate the ferry service was made without seeking meaningful input or feedback from the impacted communities, elected officials, or local stakeholders; and Whereas, the ferry enjoys broad community support on both sides of the Hudson River and continues to be viewed as a key component of smart, sustainable, and equitable transportation planning.”

The resolution concludes with the following sentiments from the county: “Now therefore, be it resolved, that the Orange County Legislature strongly opposes the termination of the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry service by the Metropolitan Transit Authority; and be it further resolved, that We, the Orange County Legislature, urge the MTA to immediately halt its plan to discontinue the ferry service and instead work with state officials, local municipalities, and community stakeholders to invest in the ferry’s long-term future; and be it further resolved, that We, the Orange County Legislature, call on Governor Hochul, the New York State Department of Transportation, and the leadership of the MTA to allocate the funding necessary to make dock repairs, expand service, and implement a comprehensive strategy to increase ridership.”

The legislature would be sending certified copies of the resolution to to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, the MTA Board of Directors, the New York State Department of Transportation, the Chairpersons of the State Senate and Assembly Transportation Committees, to each New York State Senator and Assemblyperson who represents the Counties of Orange and Dutchess, the Dutchess County Legislature, and City of Beacon.