The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has recently announced the discontinuation of the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry service this year. Over a hundred residents from the City of Newburgh and other parts of the Hudson Valley along with elected officials rallied together on Tuesday, July 8 to save the ferry and bring awareness to this issue for their communities.

The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry service was suspended starting back in January due to dock infrastructure damage that occurred on the Beacon side during the winter. Newburgh’s ferry dock closed and bus services replaced the ferry for the time being. The MTA also previously announced bus services replacing the ferry would continue to the end of 2025. Around that time, the Newburgh-Beacon shuttle bus will be free of charge for passengers connecting to the train. The MTA is also working to expand the shuttle service’s frequency and coverage in the area.

With the ferry service, it provides transportation for City of Newburgh and general area residents to commute to the Beacon train station to get to work. Other ferry riders also travel back and forth to explore the neighboring cities. Ridership data provided by the MTA shared that it was steadily declining, even prior to COVID. According to the data, “by 2024, ridership had dropped 73% from its peak average daily ridership of 227 in 2008, to just 62.”

The Save The Ferry Event on Tuesday was organized by local residents and transportation advocates, frustrated with the recent discontinuation announcement. People gathered at the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry Dock, talking to each other or taking pictures with a large cutout of a ferry.

John Shekitka, a resident of Fishkill, was hoping to ride the ferry again come springtime but seeing the service discontinued changed his plans. A supporter of mass transit and transportation alternatives himself, he was impressed by the turnout of people coming to support and save the ferry service. “I think the Hudson Valley has come a long way, but a lot of that is through investment in transportation, investment in the community and this is kind of one of those, like a step back,” said Shekitka.

The rally began at around 6 p.m. led by organizer Philippe Pierre, sharing information about the ferry, discussing the closure decision and making those gathered aware about the Newburgh Landing project looking to be constructed in 2026. “If you’re here with us now, it’s because you need the ferry. It’s because you love the ferry and it’s because you want the ferry back,” he said. “Now is not the time to reduce vital public transportation services to our community. This is a workers rights issue, this is an equity issue, this is an accessibility issue, this is an environmental issue, this is an affordability issue, this is an economic development issue, this is a taxation without representation issue.”

Pierre encouraged those gathered to sign the large boat display and to testify on what the ferry means to them which would allow them to receive a ticket for a free ice cream. A community strategy Zoom call hosted by the organization will be held on July 21, a Save the Ferry Rally will be held on July 29 in Beacon and the next MTA Board Meeting will be held on July 30.

Elected officials recognized and in attendance at the rally were Congressman Pat Ryan, Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, Mayor Torrance Harvey joined by City Councilmembers Giselle Martinez, Ramona Monteverde and Robert McLymore, Orange County Legislators Kevindaryán Luján and Genesis Ramos, Town of Newburgh Councilmen Scott Manley and Jim Politi, Senator Rob Rolison, Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus and Deputy County Executive Harry Porr. Dutchess County Comptroller Dan Aymar-Blair, Beacon City Councilmember Molly Rhodes, elected officials from the Town of Wappingers and the Newburgh School Board, members Mark Levinstein and Shadé Burks, were also recognized.

Congressman Ryan recognized in his remarks the powerful showing of people coming together to support the ferry, further criticizing the MTA. “I’m here as your elected official, not to speak at you, but to primarily hear from you and amplify your voices,” said Ryan. “We pay into this system, the MTA, your hard earned dollars, we pay into this the same as everybody else, including down in New York City and what do we get? We get services cut, services taken away, excuses, announcements on a random Zoom from a random acting VP telling us you’re taking away our services, and that is absolutely unacceptable.”

Mayor Harvey called on the MTA to restore services. “They need to get back to the table. They need to create these services and extend these services, not only for commuters during the week, but for the weekends, for our tourism and for our business community.”

Other elected officials shared sentiments on the matter: “I think the great thing is, not that there’s a bunch of electeds here, there are people from both sides of the river here,” said Rolison. “We have tried to work with the MTA, Metro-North railroad on these very topics of expanded service and now there’s no service.”

“The people have spoken. We know what the people want,” said Jacobson. “We’re going to act on this, and we’re going to get solutions, and what I think we’re going to have to think outside the box, and I’m planning to do that and work with community leaders here to figure out how we can get a solution.”

“The MTA is obviously the most disproportionate tax that we pay. We get the least back on the MTA tax out of anything else we pay. Governor [Kathy] Hochul universally appoints the MTA members, so we have to direct our energy at her and the MTA board members. She appoints them. She can call them back. One phone call, she could change this,” said Neuhaus. “We need to help our commuters now.”

After final sentiments were said, people took photos, signed the ferry and got a free ice cream to end the day. Other people signed up for notices and connected with other advocates and leaders to continue the conversation on the ferry issue.

Organizer Wendy Smith was excited about the turnout of people who came out to support the ferry, equally recognizing that transportation is needed on the western side of the river. She was also grateful for the presence of elected officials in support of the issue, supporting the residents and their voices.

Heading off from the event in Newburgh, Smith shares these sentiments to communities and residents: “It’s more than Newburgh and Beacon. It is the Hudson Valley community and extensively, the west side of the river, which is disenfranchised from Rockland to Orange and farther,” said Smith.

“Consistency is key. MTA meetings are every month. You have to show up, you have to register to speak. You may not get to speak all the time, but you have to consistently go to meetings. You have to consistently write the MTA your issues. You have to consistently connect with your elected officials.”

In the days following the rally, Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek provided a statement:

“I’m focused on providing safe and reliable transportation for our customers, and our customers just weren’t using the ferry. The good news is that they have been using the shuttle bus service and we see opportunities to enhance that service working with our partners at the New York State Department of Transportation,” said Vonashek. “Our ultimate goal is to make sure Newburgh customers have a reliable transit option to connect to Metro-North and benefit from the railroad’s record high on-time performance, which remains above 98%.”