New York: Orange County secures a seat on the MTA board amid doubts concerning the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry service.
The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry, a popular commuting option for residents of Newburgh, has been out of service since January due to damage to the Beacon dock. The ferry's suspension has left many commuters frustrated, particularly those in Orange County who feel underrepresented on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board.
Newly appointed MTA board member Jimmy O'Donnell, representing Orange County, is pushing for each mid-Hudson county to have a full vote on the board. He is also advocating for the return of the ferry service, but only if it can be shown to be financially viable and used by a significant number of people.
O'Donnell supports congestion pricing, citing its positive impact on his daughter's commute. However, Orange County commuters have expressed frustration about the MTA's lack of representation, claiming the congestion pricing plan is particularly unfair to them due to a lack of access to the Metro-North Railroad on their side of the Hudson River.
The ferry's peak ridership was 227 people a day in 2008, which has since dropped to an average of 62 people a day. In response to the discontinuation, the MTA committed to continuing a Newburgh-Beacon shuttle bus service through the end of 2025 as a replacement, emphasizing that bus service covers the same travel patterns and stops.
However, community leaders and residents are actively advocating for the ferry's return. U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY 18th District) has publicly criticized the MTA, calling the discontinuation a "reckless abandonment" of the community and a "betrayal of public trust." He and other residents protested the closure, emphasizing the ferry’s importance for commuter accessibility, tourism, and economic development in the Hudson Valley region.
Organizers have been selling T-shirts and preparing for a rally to pressure the MTA into restoring the ferry service. Jimmy O'Donnell plans to study the data after a year to see how congestion pricing has affected his constituents. He also expressed interest in exploring a rail connection that would travel from the Beacon station through the city of Newburgh via Broadway.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has enacted congestion pricing, which tolls most drivers $9 to drive south of 60th Street in Manhattan. The MTA is currently providing low-cost bus service between Newburgh and Beacon since the ferry's closure in January.
Despite the community's efforts, as of mid-2025, there had been no formal plan from the MTA for a long-term replacement of the ferry service beyond the shuttle bus, nor had the agency publicly responded in detail to calls for restoring ferry operations. A group of residents and politicians have been advocating for the restoration of the ferry service, with U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan writing a letter to the MTA CEO expressing concerns about the closure's impact on regional tourism and commuters.
Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek stated that there are no plans to restore the ferry service due to low ridership and high maintenance costs. However, O'Donnell has a stance of "use it or lose it" regarding the ferry service's potential return. Naomi Hersson-Ringskog, one of the organizers, believes the ferry's low attendance is due to its limiting schedule and lack of advertising, and suggests exploring alternative schedules, including weekend service, and integrating the ferry with bus and walkability options.
In summary, the ferry was discontinued due to low ridership, high costs, infrastructure damage, and service duplication. Community leaders and residents are actively advocating for its return, but official restoration plans remain unclear as of mid-2025. The MTA's current focus on congestion pricing and the closure of the Newburgh-Beacon ferry service is causing concern among Orange County residents, who are calling for better representation and solutions for their commuting needs.
- Jimmy O'Donnell, the MTA board member representing Orange County, is advocating for the return of the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry, but only if it can be shown to be financially viable and used by a significant number of people, while also pushing for each mid-Hudson county to have a full vote on the board.
- In response to the Newburgh-Beacon ferry's discontinuation, community leaders and residents have been actively advocating for its return, with U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney publically criticizing the MTA and others preparing for a rally to pressure the agency into restoring the ferry service.
- Despite the low ridership and high maintenance costs cited by Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek, Naomi Hersson-Ringskog, one of the organizers, believes the ferry's low attendance is due to its limiting schedule and lack of advertising, and suggests exploring alternative schedules, including weekend service, and integrating the ferry with bus and walkability options.
