Image: NYCEDC
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has introduced the procurement of a brand new NYC Ferry working contract with Hornblower Group. NYCEDC, which launched an RFP for an operator again in September 2022, says that choosing an operator by way of a aggressive course of and negotiating a brand new contract is a key part of the NYC Ferry Forward plan introduced by Mayor Eric Adams in July 2022
- Record breaking ridership, exceeding pre-pandemic ranges with farebox income up greater than $6 million;
- Per passenger subsidy is down dramatically and on monitor to be diminished by almost 30% by 2025;
- Financial transparency into the system has been reworked with the publication of NYC Ferry ridership, monetary, and subsidy info;
- Equitable ferry entry has improved by way of the launch of the NYC Ferry Discount ticket program, the launch of half-price tickets for Harbor School college students;
- Pilot routes together with the Rockaway Rocket, Rockaway Reserve, and South Brooklyn Faster Connections, which ship extra transit choices to riders, whereas decreasing prices to the system.
Building on this monitor file, and after a aggressive procurement course of, NYCEDC has awarded the brand new NYC Ferry contract to the ferry companies’s current operator, Hornblower Group. It says that Hornblower supplied a “robust proposal that will further NYC Ferry’s position as the modern transportation system that riders want. This contract includes: major business improvements, including a framework to partner with a corporate name sponsor to re-brand the system and further drive down the subsidy, upgraded ridership experiences like free onboard Wi-Fi, and behind-the-scenes system upgrades to increase transparency and efficiency. The new contract will have an initial five-year term with two three-year expansion options, furthering the system to remain a permanent fixture of the New York City landscape.”
NEW CHAPTER
“We are a five-borough administration, and we want all New Yorkers to get where they want to go as efficiently as possible, especially when using transportation like our ferry system,” stated Mayor Adams. “Last year, we announced the ‘Ferry Forward’ plan to make our ferry system more equitable, accessible, and financially sustainable. And now, we’re delivering on our commitment with upgrades like free onboard WiFi, better real-time updates for passengers, expanded in-app language services, and greater accessibility. Without question, this contract marks a new chapter in our ferry system.”
Key highlights of the brand new settlement embrace:
Building a extra financially sustainable ferry system
- Decreases price to the City by way of options that increase ridership and develop NYCEDC’s entry to NYC Ferry income streams reminiscent of farebox income, promoting and concessions.
- Improves NYCEDC oversight with higher transparency and management on operations and value facilities.
- Allows NYC Ferry to pursue engine upgrades that can end in as much as 10 % gasoline financial savings for greater than half the fleet.
Upgraded ridership expertise
- Free Wi-Fi onboard all NYC ferries.
- Enhanced real-time passenger info together with touchdown wait time estimates and on-board seat and bike spot availability.
- Expanded entry to onboard and land-side schedule and cease info.
Increasing fairness, strengthening communities, and furthering the NYC maritime profession pipeline
- Furthers NYC Ferry as a maritime profession pipeline for New York City college students by way of partnerships with the Department of Education, CUNY, and SUNY colleges with a minimal of 10 internships per 12 months and quite a lot of different profession engagement alternatives.
- Expands group engagement packages, the place Hornblower Group will interact over 10,000 folks per 12 months by way of occasions and different packages, host not less than 10 volunteer occasions yearly within the communities NYC Ferry serves and rent a full time NYCHA outreach coordinator to develop numerous ridership and set up NYC Ferry as an integral a part of waterfront communities.
- And in a traditionally non-diverse business, Hornblower Group commits to spend not less than 15% of its whole compensation beneath this settlement with M/WBE companies. Hornblower Group’s dedication to this aim is evidenced by way of their efforts to assist quite a few distributors grow to be licensed within the M/WBE program all through the request for proposal (RFP) course of.
“We are proud to be selected by NYCEDC and the City of New York as we continue our partnership as the operator of NYC Ferry; providing millions of New Yorkers with a convenient, accessible, and affordable commuting option that connects both traditionally underserved transit deserts and local economic hubs across all five boroughs,” stated Hornblower Group CEO Kevin Rabbitt. “As the founding operator of NYC Ferry in 2017, we look forward to building upon the achievements of the system’s record-setting success in a new phase, including implementing Mayor Adams’ Ferry Forward vision to create a more equitable and financially sustainable system. We proposed and look forward to executing an innovative long-term strategy for NYC Ferry that drives ridership among underserved communities, reduces operational costs, and maximizes value to city taxpayers. On behalf of Hornblower Group and the hundreds of devoted and exceptional NYC Ferry crewmembers, we thank NYCEDC and the City of New York for their ongoing collaboration and look forward to welcoming millions more riders onboard in the coming years.”
