Newburgh to Beacon Ferry Will Run Again! CARES Act + American Rescue Plan Act Earmarked For MTA

MTA MONEY FROM FEDERAL GOVT SINCE PANDEMIC
Rep. Maloney voted to pass the CARES Act in March of last year, which generated funding for different sectors, some of which the MTA is receiving:

$4.35 billion via The CARES Act: Allocated $4.35 billion to New York in Transportation Funds. $3.8 billion of those funds went exclusively to the MTA.

$6 billion via The American Rescue Plan Act: The American Rescue Plan Act, which Rep. Maloney voted to pass in February, dedicated over $6 billion to the MTA.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, Metro-North implemented an Essential Service Plan and discontinued service on both ferries. This summer, readers of A Little Beacon Blog have written in to ask if the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry is running (signage and website were not updated), and if it would run again.

This Monday (7/19/2021), the MTA announced that they were reopening the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry, as well as the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry services, scheduled to resume on Monday, August 30, just one day after Metro-North's overall service increase, which will increase train service to 83% of pre-pandemic levels.

“We are so excited to see the region continue to recover, and our weekday ridership has increased steadily all spring and into the summer,” President Rinaldi said. “Our late August service increase will provide even more travel options for people ready to return to the office after Labor Day. Restoring ferry service during weekday peak periods will give our Rockland and Orange County customers returning to work additional options for getting to and from the City and other destinations along Metro-North’s Hudson Line.”

"People are coming back to work and NY Waterway ferries are here to give them a safe, fast and convenient commute. We’re thrilled to restart the Haverstraw-Ossining and Newburgh-Beacon service with Metro-North, and we look forward seeing all our past riders, and many more new ones, back aboard in August," said Armand Pohan, CEO, President and Chairman of NY Waterway.

Funding From CARES Act And American Rescue Plan Act Earmarked For MTA

In an emailed press release, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney highlighted the reinstatement of ferry service between Newburgh and Beacon, where he celebrated “the essential funding he secured for the MTA and Metro-North in the American Rescue Plan and CARES Acts that has enabled service to resume at close to full capacity,” stated in his press release sent Wednesday (7/21/2021).

Said Rep. Maloney: “Folks are going back into the office, and they need safe, reliable, and fast transportation to get there. Getting Metro-North up and running at full capacity is key to New York’s economic recovery,” said Rep. Maloney. “The MTA saw steep declines in ridership, expensive sanitation efforts, and a massive budget shortfall during the pandemic. I worked hard to deliver the funding necessary to help fill that deficit and get operations back to normal. Now, we are seeing the impact of that investment. We’re not at 100% yet, but thanks to the nearly $10 billion I helped secure in Washington, we are getting close.”

The CARES Act, which Rep. Maloney voted to pass in March of last year, allocated $4.35 billion to New York in Transportation Funds. $3.8 billion of those funds went exclusively to the MTA. Amtrak additionally received approximately $1 billion to meet funding needs after a decline of ridership on the Northeast Corridor and long-distance routes due to COVID-19.

The American Rescue Plan Act, which Rep. Maloney voted to pass in February, dedicated over $6 billion to the MTA, as well as $4 million for New York Stewart International Airport.

MTA Announced No Scheduled Fair Hike

Also on Monday, Gothamist reported that the MTA announced that they decided not to impose a previously scheduled and postponed fair hike. From the article:

“The MTA announced Monday that a previously postponed fare hike will not happen at all in 2021. MTA board member Larry Schwartz, who chairs the finance committee and is a close confidante and adviser to Governor Cuomo, said it would be inappropriate to raise fares, during Monday’s MTA committee meetings. Larry was also at the heart of a vaccination question on counties during the spotlight on Cuomo for alleged sexual inappropriateness in the spring of 2021.

“Now is not the time to raise fares,” Schwartz said Monday. “At a time when we need to encourage increasing ridership, raising fares does the opposite.”

After receiving so much money through the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act, as spelled out by Rep. Maloney in this week’s press release, it appears that they may not need to add that cost to people.

MTA Timetables For Re-Opening Services

According to the MTA’s 7/19/2021 announcement about the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry, the Augst 30th date is part of their logic on staggered openings. “Upcoming Aug. 29 service increase follows up on service increases reflected in Metro-North's April 12 and June 21 timetables. The April 12 timetables saw the restoration of weekend service to Wassaic and the reopening of the Manitou station, located near Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony’s Nose. The June 21 timetables added 24 new peak trains on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines, bringing the railroad to 67% of its pre-pandemic service levels.”

Schedules for the Haverstraw-Ossining and Newburgh-Beacon ferries will be made available in early August. Perhaps the MTA will also update the printed signage in the Beacon location as well! And perhaps they will consider opening weekend service for trips across the river to visit the sister cities of Beacon and Newburgh!

No Ferry Service From Beacon To Newburgh - Suspended Indefinitely Since April 2020

The dock to the NY Waterway Ferry for the Newburg/Beacon ferry. As of July 2021, it has been closed since April 2020.

Several readers have reached out to see if the Newburg/Beacon Ferry is running. This week on Thursday 6/30/2021, ALBB confirmed with the NY Waterway, by way of the Marketing Manager Bernice Ramos, that the ferry is not running. We asked for more details as to why it is not running, and have not heard back yet. This article will be updated if a response comes in.

At the height of the pandemic, while subways in New York City were shut down and people were not commuting into work due to the shutdown, the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry suspended service on April 13, 2020, according to Mid Hudson News. The Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry was also suspended. Both were replaced with bus service.

However, bus service was also discontinued, as reported on May 25, 2020 by Mid Hudson News, citing low ridership. Dutchess County has been promoting its bus service, using it as a free resource for people getting COVID-19 tests, and are considering increasing service for those who need public transportation and don’t have cars.

A marketing message on the NY Waterway website, encouraging people to use the ferry. However, the ferry has been closed for over a year. No signage is posted down at the dock, or on the website.

No Signage or Website Message To Indicate Ferry Is Not Running

Currently, heavy construction is being done to the Newburgh/Beacon bridge, creating the usual traffic to cross over and through the toll lines. The ferry service continues to the most pleasant, and arguably most COVID-friendly way to cross the river, as it is in open air.

The only marketing message stand at the NY Waterway Ferry. The schedule for the ferry is from 2020.

There is no signage at the dock that the ferry is not running. People who wander down to the dock looking to take he ferry ask others who are waiting for the Bannerman Island Boat Tour ferry, which is running, if anyone knows anything about the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry. There is also no message on the NY Waterway website, except that there is no schedule posted. Which to be honest, is par for the course, and not a strong enough indication that the service has stopped.

Heavy Interest In Reviving The Newburgh/Beacon Ferry In 2019 With Pilot Weekend Service Initiative

Prior to the pandemic, investment was made into the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry, with great fanfare around the increased service - to run on the weekend. Since 1963, when the Newburgh/Beacon bridge was built, the weekend service was cut. The announcement of the weekend service trial was made in September 2019, with both Beacon and Newburgh working with Dutchess County and Orange County to make this happen. At that time, the weekend service wasn’t even using the NY Waterway Ferry vessel. It was using a boat from the Hudson River Maritime Museum. It is unknown at this time why the weekend service wouldn’t use the NY Waterway boat.

The NY Waterway Ferry Launched Free Service To IKEA In Brooklyn In Partnership With IKEA

As reported by NBC New York on 7/1/2021, NY Waterway partnered with IKEA in Red Hook (Brooklyn) to launch a new free weekend service to help people get to the Brooklyn store. The service had been offered before, but was halted during the pandemic.

According to the article, beginning on July 3, 2021, service “will run on weekends for the rest of the summer. Customers can board the ferry from Pier 79/Midtown Ferry Terminal, Brookfield Place/Battery Park City or at Pier 11/Wall Street. Those from New Jersey looking fto take advantage can connect from cross-Hudson ferries by transferring at any terminal in Manhattan.” The ferries run power up from 11am- 7pm. On July 4,, service will go from 9:25am to 4pm.

Social distancing will be encouraged, and masks are still required inside ferry terminals, and inside the cabins and shuttles. However, masks are not required on the open-air top decks, the NY Waterway said.

Why the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry has remained anchored at port-side (or out of the water) is unknown at this time. If you have information, please reach out to ALBB.

Newburgh - Beacon Ferry Trial Weekend Access Canceled For October 19th and 20th, 2019

This just in from the desk of Beacon’s City Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero:

Newburgh & Beacon Pilot Tourist River-Boat Program for the Weekend of October 19 and October 20 Cancelled

“The Newburgh & Beacon Pilot Tourist River-Boat Program for the weekend of Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20 is being cancelled due to weather conditions and logistical concerns. The partners, the Cities of Newburgh and Beacon, and Orange County and Dutchess County, regret the cancellation, but are already looking towards next year.”

For more information, people are directed to contact the following:

• City of Newburgh Department of Planning and Development, Alexandra Church, planning@cityofnewburgh-ny.gov or (845) 569-9400

• City of Beacon City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, MPA, at aruggiero@cityofbeacon.org or (845) 838.5009

• Orange County Planning Department planning@orangecountygov.com or (845) 615.3840

Was the first trial of the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry a success? According to Gabe Berlin, chair of the Newburgh Transportation Committee: “I was told almost every run on the Saturday was nearly full.”

How To Ride The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry During The Special Trial Weekends In September and October

IMPORTANT FERRY INFO
DATES:
Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29
Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19
TIMES:
Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday: 10 am 4 pm
DEPARTURE: Boat leaves Newburgh at the top of the hour. Boat leaves Beacon at the half hour.
BOAT DOCKS:
Newburgh: Newburgh Washington Street Boat Launch (2 Washington Street)
Beacon: Beacon Institute Dock, located on the Beacon waterfront by the Metro-North train station.
Note: this is not the regular MTA dock, but is next to it.
Pro-Tip! There is a free public bus called the G Loop that runs Monday to Saturday, and will whisk you up the hill to Main Street. It even passes Barb’s Butchery. It runs on a train arrival schedule, and does not run on Sundays.
COST: $2, cash only

A lifestyle experiment is in place, and you can be a part of it. The Cities of Beacon and Newburgh, as well as Dutchess and Orange County are thinking that the people of this area may benefit from increased ferry service between Beacon and Newburgh, so have set up ferry service for two weekends and you’re invited to try it.

According to the initiative’s press release: “This service will help determine whether there is enough interest and traffic for a more regular service. Other benefits of increased service are allowing both cities to attract more regional tourism, allow for easier exchange for local residents to access strong job markets and entertainment, and forge innovative relations between City of Beacon and Newburgh.”

Here’s how you can ferry across the Hudson River on September 28 and 29 for Beacon’s Spirit of Beacon Day and for Newburgh’s Open Studios, and then again on October 19 and 20 for Beacon’s Annual Car Show, and Newburgh’s Literary Festival:

The Ferry Boat and Dock Are Different Than The Usual MTA Ferry

Because this is an experiment, a relationship with the The Hudson River Maritime Museum was initiated so that they could charter the boat, and not go through the MTA. The Hudson River Maritime Museum designed and built a solar-powered tour boat called the Solaris, which is the only 100% solar-powered boat in operation on the Hudson River. It does not require fossil fuels to operate. According to the museum’s website: “This vessel can travel up to 50 miles at night without the use of her solar panels. Even on cloudy days, the solar panels are so efficient that they continue to power the batteries.”

The boat can carry 28 passengers at a time. Service is first-come, first-serve, and costs $2 exact change, one-way. Cash only, no credit can be accepted.

Who Made This Ferry Experiment Happen?

According to the press release: “This effort was a joint effort by the Cities of Newburgh and Beacon and Orange and Dutchess Counties, with costs shared between Orange County and Dutchess County under a tourism initiative.” A Little Beacon Blog did a deep-dive article to discover more about why this experiment is so important, and the factors considered in implementing it.

For more information, please contact:

City of Newburgh Department of Planning and Development, Alexandra Church, planning@cityofnewburgh-ny.gov or (845) 569-9400

City of Beacon City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, MPA, at aruggiero@cityofbeacon.org or (845) 838-5009.

Orange County Planning Department, planning@orangecountygov.com or (845) 615.3840.

Interview with Gabriel Berlin, Chair Of The Newburgh Transportation Committee About Ferry Service

During the research for the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry article, we came upon Gabriel Berlin, Chair of the Newburgh Transportation Advisory Committee. He reached out when he learned we were writing an article on the Newburgh-Beacon ferry weekend trial service, so we were able to learn more about his thoughts on the benefits of increased ferry service. Turns out, he lives in Newburgh with his wife, Annmarie Nye, who is a co-owner of Binnacle Books, a bookstore on Main Street in Beacon. When not talking transportation, Gabe and Annmarie run a design agency, Fishbulb Design.

Why are you on the Newburgh Transportation Committee, Gabe?

I am on the Newburgh Transportation Advisory Committee because I care a lot about transportation issues. I was asked to chair the committee by Newburgh Councilman Anthony Grice. I’ve been part of community groups in Newburgh for almost five years, and I saw this as a good opportunity to help elevate the voice of city residents who rely heavily on public transportation and safe streets. Transportation is something that truly affects all of Newburgh, whether working class or wealthy, young or old.

Why was the Newburgh Transportation Committee created?

The Committee actually existed until about a decade ago, but it was called the Parking and Traffic Committee, which gives you an idea of its priorities. It was defunct until we restarted it in 2018. One of the first things we did was change the name to the Newburgh Transportation Advisory Committee to reflect the city’s commitment to all modes of transportation, whether car, bus, ferry, train, walking, biking, skateboarding, scooter, and anything else!

Regarding the ferry - what are the benefits for Beacon, as you see them?

I personally know many residents of Newburgh, myself included, who would love better access to the city of Beacon for shopping, eating, and outdoor activities. But the Newburgh-Beacon shuttle and ferry only run on weekdays, and even then it is for a limited amount of time (for example there’s almost no service between morning rush hour and evening rush hour). So unless you have your own car or you can afford a taxi for every trip, your options are limited.

Furthermore, 30 percent of Newburgh households do not have regular access to a car. Seventy percent of Newburgh has access to one car or less. That is a lot of people who rely on public transportation to get around the Newburgh-Beacon area. So if there isn’t easy and affordable public transit such as a ferry in a walkable location in both cities, that is a lot of people who would like to visit Beacon, but can’t.

Is there a bus line that goes between Beacon and Newburgh?

There is, but it only runs limited weekday hours. No weekend service, no midday service, and last bus from Beacon on weekdays is 9:20 pm, last bus from Newburgh if you're trying to get back to Beacon is 5:30 pm (!). Also, reports from our riders indicate that service can be unreliable. Find more information about the bus here: https://leprechaunlines.com/stewart-newburgh-beacon-shuttle/

Once one has landed on the Newburgh side, is there easy public transportation to get up the hill? There is the waterfront to enjoy, but what if they wanted to get past that?

Bus service in Newburgh is managed by Orange County, which has four bus routes in the city, organized under its Transit Orange department. One of the four routes would take you up the hill via Washington Street, but Transit Orange buses only run until 7 pm, and don't run on Sundays at all.

In Beacon, we have the free G Loop bus that is coordinated with the train. When you get off the train, the bus is there to take you up our hill to Main Street. How does it work on the Newburgh side?

Everyone in Newburgh mentions the Beacon Free Loop as something Newburgh needs, as currently there are no weekend transportation options to get up the hill other than walking or private car.

[Editor’s Note: The Beacon Free G Loop was a major undertaking between the City of Beacon, Dutchess County, and BeaconArts. Recently, the City Council plans to continue co-funding the free bus.]

Do you have any other thoughts you would like to share with our readers?

I do! Three thoughts:

1. Study after study has shown that better public transit and walkable cities increase commerce and tourism. And there is a multiplier effect. If you have people walking to a shopping district, they are more likely to stop in at other businesses along the way, rather than traveling via car where they are more likely to drive straight to their destination, visit one business, then leave.

2. There’s also the environmental issue. We simply need to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels. And one of the ways to do that is encourage public transportation and walkability over low-occupancy vehicles.

3. And finally, gridlock and traffic. Every person that rides a ferry between Newburgh and Beacon is likely one less car creating gridlock on 9D at I-84. Imagine if a majority of the people traveling between the cities were off the road and on the ferry. There might never be backup on 9D in Beacon!

Gabriel concluded the interview with this: “Public transportation such as a ferry is a win for everyone involved, from business owners to city residents.”

Newburgh-Beacon Ferry Will Run Two Trial Weekend Services - Why This Is A Big Deal

We know what you’re thinking: “That doesn’t look like the newburgh-beacon ferry!” You’re right, it doesn’t. This is the Solaris, a smaller vessel from the hudson river maritime museum that carries 28 passengers and will be used for trial newburgh-beacon weekend service.

This weekend is a big one - it is the Spirit of Beacon Day (ALBB will be there!! Look for our South Avenue Elementary float!) on one side of the Hudson River, and Newburgh Open Studios on the other side. For the first time in decades, a ferry between Newburgh and Beacon will be running on Saturday and Sunday, and it’s kind of a big deal. It’s a huge deal, actually, that’s been in the making for some time, involving several groups of people working together to make it happen.

Normally, the only way to get to Newburgh on the weekend - or mid-day, any day of the week - is by crossing the Newburgh-Beacon bridge by car, and hoping that there isn’t a traffic jam or bottleneck at either exit ramp. The ferry was first established with a charter from England’s King George II in 1743; that means its claim to fame - “it was used during the Revolutionary War” - holds up! Ferry service continued between Newburgh and Beacon for 220 years. During that time, many factory workers from both sides of the Hudson ferried across the river. In days past, the boat was larger, could carry up to 30 cars, had separate entrances for men and women, and offered additional fees for bikes and strollers.

In 1963, when the Newburgh-Beacon bridge was built, ferry service was discontinued. It returned in 2005 to accommodate commuters mainly from Newburgh, who wanted to hop onto the Beacon train to New York City. If you wanted to catch the ferry for a simple ride over to Newburgh during the middle of the day or the weekend, you weren’t able to. But many have wanted to, with various public opinion polls popping up over the years.

Who Decides To Say “Yes” To Making The Ferry Available?

As you see artists and businesses promote the limited weekend run of the ferry for the Newburgh Open Studios and Spirit of Beacon Day, you may have thought to yourself: “Oh, I’m glad that happened. It will be fun to take the ferry. The ferry must be something that someone can just green-light whenever they want. How delightful to cruise across the river in a ferry.”

And that assumption would not be correct. Well, the trip across the river is delightful, but it turns out, it has taken an entire commission of people on the Newburgh Transportation Committee, county legislators, the county executive, the local government leaders from both Beacon and Newburgh, Newburgh’s planning commissioner, and others to put this together. The first people to connect A Little Beacon Blog to this effort were Cher Vick of the Newburgh Restoration blog, and Naomi Hersson-Ringskog of The Department of Small Interventions and the Newburgh Chapter of the Awesome Foundation.

At a September meeting of the Beacon City Council, the trial-run weekend concept was put to a resolution, and the council members had to vote on whether or not they agreed to this limited ferry schedule. Beacon Mayor Randy Casale spoke about pushback he had heard from some Beacon businesses, who feared that Beacon would lose business to Newburgh. The City Council agreed to wait and see if a dip indeed happened, and voted unanimously in favor of powering up the ferry this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29) as well as the weekend of October 19-20, 2019.

How Some Beacon Businesses Feel About The Increased Ferry Service

At the City Council meeting, Mayor Casale issued words of caution about the increased ferry service, to protect Beacon businesses. Owners of Max’s on Main, Richie and Harvey Kaplan, were there to ask whether Beacon businesses had been polled about this move. Harvey recalled when he and his brother looked for a space to open their bar/restaurant in 2005 during a time when there was not a lot of business on Main Street in Beacon. They hunkered down, and other businesses followed in ensuing years.

“Other businesses came to Main Street, and we grew. Along the way, there were concepts that came. They wanted to build some stores down on the water and it was rejected because there were so many businesses on Main Street,” Harvey recalled, stating that he was Vice President of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce at that time. “If you want to try it… I would think about it very carefully before you let it go every day. It would hurt the businesses who have worked very hard.”

Council member Amber Grant reached for middle ground: “I would like to see how that [expanded service] goes and how it plays out in reality. The Loop bus runs [Beacon’s free bus that goes from the train to Main Street] on Saturday. You have an easy transportation method. Maybe it would be a positive impact.” Her sentiment was echoed by other council members, including Jodi McCredo, who asked to hear from Beacon business owners.

Another business owner, Kamel Jamal, owner of Beacon Bread Company, Tito Santana Taqueria, Ziatun, and (once again) Angelina’s in Cold Spring, also does not agree with the ferry service, saying this on Instagram: “All our NYC tourists can now jump on a ferry to the Newburgh waterfront. Orange County now gets our county and city tax revenue and gets our sales too. It’s a bad deal.”

Before the feeling of being trapped on an island (or being kept in a Beacon bubble) enters your mind, we reached out to see what others thought.

A Little Beacon Blog’s Small Poll Of Beacon Businesses

Recently, we here at A Little Beacon Blog added a new member to our team, Project Manager Teslie Andrade. She lives in Newburgh, drives across the bridge to our office, and was thrilled at the idea of increased ferry service. So we inquired with a few other businesses to learn about their situations.

We also spoke with our business neighbor, Scott Tillitt, founder of BEAHIVE, the community workspace who has two locations in Beacon, a hive in Albany, and has just announced a long-awaited expansion in Newburgh in the Wireworks building. How does he feel about the increased ferry service? “There’s already a lot of flow between Beacon and Newburgh,” observed Scott. “By expanding BEAHIVE to Newburgh, I hope to build a metaphorical bridge between the two creative communities. Increased ferry service that serves more than just commuters will help create a more literal bridge. Personally, I share a car with my partner Amy, and I can foresee times when the ferry would come in handy if I need to get over there and she has the car. (Granted, we live right above the train station, so it’d be super easy.) I know others in the same boat (haha). And I imagine it will only help drive foot traffic in both communities.”

As for the restaurant community, we reached out to Greg Trautman, owner of the renovated Beacon Hotel located on Main Street: “I feel people in Newburgh like to come to Beacon, and people in Beacon like to go to Newburgh. Making it easier to connect helps both.”

Barb Fisher, owner of Barb’s Butchery located on Spring Street just over Fishkill Creek, said: “It’s not likely it’ll affect me... but I think more is better. Maybe people will come to Beacon from the other side of the river.”

Beacon is not the same city it was in 2005. Thanks to the businesses and the home and commercial renovations that have transpired, the “tipping point” that everyone was talking about in 2009/2010 has tipped, and we are in a state of pouring, or rushing water. Council member Jodi, ever concerned with traffic congestion on Main Street and Route 9D, pointed out that “Beacon has been written up a lot lately... I see it freeing up traffic on 9D. Parking. I definitely understand those concerns, but I do see benefits.”

Businesses opening up now in Beacon are benefiting from major national news coverage that A Little Beacon Blog has done a round-up on. While every city and community should be cautious about its growth, Beacon may not need to underestimate itself and fear a developed waterfront of restaurants like on the Newburgh side. People like to eat, shop, learn, explore, and be inspired. This will happen whether they are driving, walking, biking, and maybe now boating across.

As an aside, taking the ferry across the river is a stress-relieving way of traveling, and scenic too. You’re floating in between two mountain ranges!

Local Government’s Take On Increased Newburgh-Beacon Ferry Service

Dutchess County Legislator Nick Page, who represents Beacon, has been working on increasing the ferry service. “My feeling is that Beacon would be well-served to increase connection with Newburgh, both socially, and, especially in the mid- to long-run, economically,” Nick told A Little Beacon Blog.

“The conversations that I’ve had with Beacon business owners over the summer in regards to a weekend ferry option have shown an interest in increased connection and an understanding that our success here is more than a zero-sum game - a dollar spent in Beacon is more than simply a dollar not spent in Newburgh, and vice-versa. Overall, the more that we can sensibly offer, and the more that we can engage, the better off we’ll be.”

After the trial service was approved and set into motion, the City of Beacon’s City Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero, distributed a press release that shared opinions from several political levels:

Beacon Mayor Randy Casale: “The Spirit of Beacon is a day to bring the city together and get to know one another better, learn to know what each other liked in conversation, feelings, entertainment, education and food. And now this same spirit is being extended to the City of Newburgh. Only [by] working and supporting each other can the region thrive.”

Newburgh City Manager Joseph Donat “thanked Alexandra Church, Director of Planning and Development for her around-the-clock efforts to make this happen. The City of Newburgh also extended its thanks to Orange and Dutchess counties, as well as to Beacon. This service will encourage people and families who live on both sides of the river to discover more of each other’s neighborhoods and communities, just a 20-minute ride from each coast.”

Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus: “Orange County is thrilled to partner, and cost-share this service, with our friends in Dutchess County. I encourage everyone to go out and enjoy the great experiences we have to offer along the Hudson River.”

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro: “This partnership will benefit residents in both communities, giving us another avenue to showcase some of the many locations and amenities that make us distinctly Dutchess. We are happy to have partnered with our colleagues in the Dutchess County Legislature, as well as our friends in Orange County, to make this collaboration a reality.”

Unpacking This Ferry Development

We have more articles about the possible increased ferry service. More, you ask? Is there really more to running a ferry? There is! Articles to come:

• How To Ride The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry During The Trial Weekends In September + October 2019

• Inside The Newburgh Transportation Committee - What It Is and How It Impacts Beacon

IMPORTANT FERRY INFO
DATES:
Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29
Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19
TIMES:
Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm
DEPARTURE: Boat leaves Newburgh at the top of the hour. Boat leaves Beacon at the half hour.
BOAT DOCKS:
Newburgh: Newburgh Washington Street Boat Launch (2 Washington Street)
Beacon: Beacon Institute Dock, located on the Beacon waterfront by the Metro-North Train Station. Note: this is not the regular MTA dock, but is next to it.
COST: $2, cash only

Exhibit of the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry Now Open - But First, Did You Take the Ferry Yet?

PLANNING FOR THE NEWBURGH FERRY EXHIBIT:
“This Way to the Ferry” Exhibit
Sundays 1-4 pm, through Dec. 31, 2016
$5 suggested donation
The Crawford House
189 Montgomery Street, Newburgh
845-561-2585; www.newburghhistoricalsociety.com

Many locals are likely aware of the cute blue and white ferry that chugs back and forth between Beacon and Newburgh multiple times each weekday. It's the official Newburgh-Beacon Ferry that roared back to life in 2005 after being taken out of the water when the Newburgh-Beacon bridge was built, and it is in the spotlight right now at the Newburgh Historical Society, who has the ferry's history on display at their headquarters at The Crawford House.

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The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry as it approaches the Beacon dock from Newburgh. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Most of the ferry riders are commuters from the west side of the Hudson River who have opted out of driving to New York City. Instead of driving over the bridge and trying to snag a coveted parking spot at the Beacon Metro-North train station, they hop on the ferry and arrive on the Beacon side, just steps from the local and express trains that will whisk them into New York City for work.

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Any seat on the ferry has a view. The upper deck will get you unobstructed views of rolling hills and mountains. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Still, savvy adventure-seekers are also discovering that the quick river jaunt (it’s about six to eight minutes) makes for a fun and affordable outing. Whether it’s a romantic rendezvous, capped off with cocktails on the Newburgh waterfront, or just a breezy boat ride with the kids, taking the ferry is a cool way to explore the region. 

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The boarding dock on the Newburgh side.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

A one-way fare for an adult is an easy $1.75, and kids under 5 ride for free. Children ages 6 to 11 as well as seniors 62 and older are only $1. The last trip from Newburgh to Beacon is around 8:20pm (always check the train schedule), so plan for an early night if hitting the Newburgh waterfront.

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A ferrygoer, verifying the last ferry time, making sure to not miss the boat.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry runs on the weekdays only, so this is one trip you want to plan during the week. Keep in mind, however, that the ferry schedule is related to the peak-train schedule. The last ferry of the morning/day departs Newburgh at 8:04am, and then pauses for the day. The ferry starts up again with a departure out of Beacon at 5:42pm, and the last ferry returning from Newburgh at 8:24pm. Perhaps if the NY Waterway knew that more passengers wanted to ride the ferry during the day, they would expand their schedule (let them know here). Can you imagine, avoiding all of that bridge traffic to get to Newburgh, and enjoying an easy, breezy ride on the water for six minutes of relaxation? Don't believe me? Watch this video footage from our investigation (and wave to the captain):

“Whenever somebody comes to visit, the first thing that I do is take them down to the ferry,” says Mary McTamaney, the Newburgh City historian. “People are always amazed at how beautiful it is here and they get to see the scope of the river and Newburgh, perched up on the hill.”

The current ferry began service in October 2005, mainly to deal with the overcrowding at the Beacon train station parking lot. But the Newburgh-Beacon ferry actually has a long and storied history as one of the first, and longest-lasting, ferry routes in the country. First established with a charter from King George II in 1743, ferry service continued for 220 years until 1963, when the completion of the Newburgh-Beacon bridge made the ferry obsolete. ... Or so people thought.

Now, the new exhibit at the Crawford House Historical Museum in Newburgh uses photos, paintings, documents, videos, and other memorabilia to bring to life the story of the ferries that were such an integral part of transforming both Newburgh and Beacon into bustling industrial hubs.

What You'll Find at the Exhibit

The one-room exhibit, which is jointly sponsored by the Historical Society of the Newburgh Bay and the Highlands as well as the Beacon Historical Society, covers a lot of ground. It begins with the early days when the first ferries were powered by oars and then horses. Even George Washington and his troops rode the ferries frequently during the War of Independence!

But the bulk of the exhibit focuses on the early part of the 20th century, with intriguing photos of the three main ferry boats of this era: the Orange, the Dutchess, and the Beacon, all of which could carry up to 30 cars (the current ferry only transports people).

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Photo Credit: NewburGh historical Society

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The Dutchess ferry, carrying cars
Photo Credit: NewburGh historical Society

By the early part of the 20th century, both Newburgh and Beacon had bustling waterfronts. Situated halfway between New York City and Albany, Newburgh was a transportation hub on the river and had dozens of waterside factories producing everything from bricks to lawnmowers to ships. Both the Dutchess and the Orange were built in a Newburgh shipyard.  Workers crisscrossed the river via the ferries constantly — either to work in Newburgh or in one of the many Beacon factories that produced hats, bricks, and other wares.

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The Ferry at Fishkill Landing. Photo Credit: Newburgh historical Society

The ferry was also a popular river crossing for travelers in the Northeast, as well a social outlet for people of all ages. “Teenagers, families, everybody loved to ride the ferry,” says McTamaney.

The boarding dock today near Long Dock on the Beacon side.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

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The rose-lined walking path to the boarding dock on the Newburgh side.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The exhibit highlights lots of fun facts. When the Dutchess made its maiden voyage in 1910, there were separate entrances for men and women. Fares in 1953? Car: 60 cents. Large truck: $2.50. Pedestrians, bikes, baby carriage: 15 cents. By the 1950s, the ferries were running 24 hours a day, and one man recalls spending the entire night in the middle of the river when the Orange became encased in ice: “The boat departed the Newburgh slip at 11:30 pm … Five minutes later and close to mid-stream we really slammed into something which gave us a sudden jolt. We couldn’t see too well but the ice seemed to have piled up almost level with some of the windows.”  

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Photo Credit: Newburgh Historical Society

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Photo Credit: Newburgh Historical Society

Several photos and newspaper articles highlight the historic last day of ferry service: November 3, 1963 — one day after the opening of the Newburgh-Beacon bridge. The Dutchess and the Orange famously saluted each other mid-river on their final run. Captain William Atkins had been a ferry pilot for 41 years and recalls his last trip: “Twenty cars and a handful of passengers, many intent only on getting to Beacon, rode the Dutchess. The ferry’s smoke blew toward the Dutchess County shore. The slip rumbled as the engines started and the boat’s whistle sent up a forlorn goodbye to Newburgh.” The closure of the ferry is reminiscent of how The Little Red Lighthouse felt when the bridge got built above it, but this fear of becoming obsolete became a reality for decades. The resurgence of the ferry since 2005 has corrected that, thanks to the demand from commuters, and perhaps now people seeking an easier way to get to Newburgh than by car. Who knows, maybe with enough requests it will open on the weekend, or even return to running 24 hours a day!

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In addition to the exhibit, the Crawford House itself is a must-see. This grand 1830 Neoclassical home simply oozes with historic (albeit musty) charm, featuring stunning river views and an impressive collection of Hudson River School paintings. It was built for Captain David Crawford, a maritime entrepreneur, who played a key role in turning Newburgh into a major shipping and industrial city. Architectural highlights include 40-foot iconic columns, front and rear Palladian windows, and exquisite woodcarvings throughout. In 1958, the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands purchased the house to prevent its demolition for a planned parking lot.

One kink in the perfect planning of going to the ferry exhibit: Visitors cannot take the ferry itself there, as the ferry only runs on weekdays, and this exhibit is open on Sundays from 1 to 4pm until December 31, 2016.