What’s Next for the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry?
Newburgh-Beacon Ferry before it was suspended in early 2025.
Even in the middle of this current heatwave, it’s hard not to shudder when recalling the jagged shards of ice that filled the Hudson River this past winter. Making the water resemble Dia Beacon’s Map of Broken Glass (Atlantis), by Robert Smithson, it was inevitable that the ice would eventually cause damage.
Those who love the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry have always kept our fingers crossed that the winter storms wouldn’t significantly impact the beloved commuter service that connected the two Hudson Valley cities for decades and has existed in various forms since 1743.
But that’s exactly what happened in January 2025 when ice caused serious damage to the Beacon dock. After months of near silence, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced in June 2025 that the Ferry would be permanently discontinued due to low ridership and the $2.1 million annual cost of running it.
The Hudson River at Long Dock Park in Beacon in early 2025.
A Connection Between Beacon and Newburgh
To many, the Ferry is a critical transportation link for commuters, students, workers, visitors, and residents traveling between Newburgh and Beacon. Within that population is a subset that continue from the ferry to Metro North destinations and, of course, New York City. For two cities that are in such proximity, it’s actually quite challenging to get to either of them without a car. Bus services are infrequent and only at peak times, which leaves driving or biking for those with brave dispositions. None of these seem like great or equitable options.
And let’s not forget the leisure riders—those who love to ride across the Hudson between Beacon and Newburgh on hot summer evenings to snap epic Hudson Valley sunset shots and to grab a bite to eat. While their need may not be considered “essential,” the ferry service offers a quality-of-life benefit that’s accessible to all. Plus, these riders generate additional revenue.
Soon after the MTA made its announcement, a group of concerned Newburgh and Beacon residents launched a grassroots campaign called Save The Ferry. The campaigners say that discontinuing the Ferry would leave a growing community disconnected and alienated from essential public transit. Local political leaders from across the aisle—including Congressman Pat Ryan, Jonathan G. Jacobson (New York State Assemblyman for the 104th District), Yvette Valdés Smith, (Minority Leader, Dutchess County Legislature and Dutchess County Legislator, District 16), Dan Aymar Blair (Dutchess County Comptroller), and Rob Rolison, (New York State Senator for the 39th District)—agree.
Transportation is key to accessibility
Supporters of the Save the Ferry Campaign show their support at this week’s rally in Beacon.
The campaign is not just about transportation and efficiency. It’s also about equity and environmental justice. Its concern is that communities like Newburgh already face disproportionate challenges, and cutting transportation routes servicing them will only deepen the divide. Plus, there are riders who depend on the ferry for affordable, reliable, and ADA (Americans with Disability Act)-compliant travel. At $1.75 per ride, the Ferry offered access to disabled and low-income passengers that taxis or buses cannot.
Finally, with economic development taking place in Newburgh and Orange County in terms of housing and infrastructure, campaigners believe there should be adequate and sustained transit support in place. The goal of the campaign is to call on the MTA, NYS Department of Transportation, and local governments to restore ferry service and to commit to long-term investment in this transportation corridor.
When asked about the issue, Yvette Valdés Smith—who is calling for the MTA to stop the shutdown and engage with local leaders and residents on this issue—said, “People across the Hudson Valley rely on and deserve to trust in consistent service from the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry –but this fight is about more than just that. Members of our community have been left behind by the MTA for far too long.
“I will continue to rally with our community and speak up and show up for as long as we have to to get our ferry service restored. If anything, we should be expanding service, not limiting service, and certainly not getting rid of it all together.”
Molly Rhodes—Beacon City Councilmember for Ward One who is currently running for the District 18 seat in the Dutchess County Legislature—told us, "Beacon has long been a champion of alternative ways to access and enjoy our community, from the Beacon Free Loop, the Fjord Trail, and the Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail to the prioritization of "last mile" work along Beekman Street. The ferry is a critical component to build connection across our mid-Hudson communities. And if the MTA won't step up to fill this need, our county, state, and federal partners must work alongside us to find a way to make this happen."
At this week’s campaign rally on a steamy, humid Tuesday evening at Beacon Ferry Dock, Beaconites and Newburgh residents joined to listen to speakers including Jonathan Jacobson who said, “The MTA has an annual budget of nearly $20 billion, so $2.1 million is the equivalent of a rounding error.” Jacobson also said he was committed to securing state funding to fix the floating section of Beacon’s dock and to enable the City of Beacon to own the dock. The Clearwater and other vessels will be able to return there again once the floating dock is fixed. When asked about the news, Mayor Lee Kyriacou said, “The City is grateful for Assemblyman Jacobson’s commitment of funding to get Beacon’s dock back in shape and is exploring alternatives.”
What’s next for the campaign
If you support Save the Ferry, here’s what you can do to get involved. Sign up to their newsletter and follow them on Instagram. Here you’ll find a link to resources and actions you can take, which includes a form letter to send to Governor Kathy Hochul and to the MTA.
It’s fair to say that a reinstatement of the Ferry without an adaptation of schedules or overall purpose may be hard to justify when balanced against cost and low ridership. However, a reinvention of the Ferry to meet today’s commuter and visitor needs could benefit both communities. Beacon’s Main Street would certainly welcome more visitors from Newburgh, Orange County, and beyond. Interesting times ahead.
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Until next time…
The Beacon Beacon🧡