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Jersey City officials announced July 17 the launch of a city-run ferry operation out of Port Liberte Ferry Terminal, which had been shut down since the early days of the pandemic in 2020.

Mayor Steve Fulop’s administration has spearheaded the effort. Following a Request for Proposals (RFP) process, NY Waterway was selected to provide weekday services at the ferry terminal.

Officials say the goal is to close transit gaps and create more affordable and efficient transportation options for low- and middle-income residents outside of the downtown area. Jersey City used a $4 million New Jersey Department of Transportation grant to help revive the ferry service, which will include a 40% discount on travel rates.

To take the connectivity efforts a step further, Fulop’s administration will use the NJDOT grant funding to provide free transportation to and from the ferry terminal by leveraging existing transit services through Via, which operates an on-demand microtransit service in Jersey City. Last week, NJBIZ reported about a similar service launched in Camden, which is modeled after the Hudson County program.

“We are committed to making Jersey City a place where everyone can thrive, and expanding mobility is a key part of that effort,” said Fulop in a press release. “We saw a unique opportunity with this underutilized ferry terminal and added free Via rides for direct access to encourage residents in Greenville and the West Side who are close in proximity but have been deterred for decades due to its secluded location.”

Jersey City also plans to use a portion of the grant funding to build new Citi Bike stations in the Greenville and Bergen-Lafayette neighborhoods for added mobility options to and from the ferry, including a station at the terminal. Bike carry-on fees will be waived at the terminal.

Overall, Fulop and other city officials say these efforts are aimed at removing limitations for residents in the south and west areas of Jersey City to provide greater access to better jobs, health care specialists, prominent schools, and other opportunities.

“This ferry terminal is the only direct access point to and from New York City outside of downtown,” said Barkha Patel, director of Jersey City’s Department of Infrastructure. “We want to make more affordable and efficient connections for residents who currently have less transit options, and I’m excited to see the positive impact it will have on our residents.”

Armand Pohan, NY Waterway‘s president and CEO, said the operator is delighted to once again provide service from Port Liberte to lower Manhattan.

“As the region continues to emerge from the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to connect Jersey City communities to NYC with a transportation option that keeps cars and buses off bridges and tunnels,” said Pohan.

More information on the reopened Port Liberte ferry services is available here.