Beyond the hustle of Midtown Manhattan sits the West Midtown Ferry Terminal. What if I told you this terminal is more than just a place to catch a ferry? It is a vital link connecting New York City to New Jersey. The West Midtown Ferry Terminal opened in 1986. It started with NY Waterway commuter ferry service.
Located at Piers 78 and 79 in Hudson River Park, the West Midtown Ferry Terminal sits next to the West Side Highway. This location provides easy access for commuters. The city owns the terminal. NY Waterway leases it. They operate ferries to several destinations. These include Jersey City, Hoboken, and Weehawken. You can also reach Edgewater and Belford.
The West Midtown Ferry Terminal is a public terminal. This means any ferry company can use it. NYC Ferry uses it for its St. George route. Seastreak also uses the terminal. They provide service to the Raritan Bayshore. The terminal is on a narrow strip of land. It is west of Hudson River Park and the West Side Highway. The West Midtown Ferry Terminal’s construction was interesting. Builders had to incorporate the ventilation towers of the Lincoln Tunnel. These towers were built in the 1930s.
The West Midtown Ferry Terminal itself is clad in glass. It has six ferry slips. Inside, you will find a passenger ticketing area and a waiting room. NY Waterway refers to the terminal as Midtown / West 39th Street in its schedules. After the September 11 attacks, the terminal became even more important. With the World Trade Center PATH terminal destroyed, cross-Hudson passenger capacity was greatly reduced. Ferry service expanded to compensate.
In 2005, the West Midtown Ferry Terminal was renovated. This was to accommodate the increasing demand for ferry service. The renovation provided ferry slips for short haul crossings. It also made space for water taxis. The terminal can now handle high-speed long-distance service.
NY Waterway commuter ferries connect to several New Jersey terminals. These ferries run seven days a week. You can reach Lincoln Harbor and Weehawken Port Imperial. Hoboken 14th Street is also accessible. Weekday peak hours offer additional services. These include Hoboken Terminal, Paulus Hook Ferry Terminal, and Edgewater Landing. South Amboy is also served during these times.
NYC Ferry’s St. George route began in August 2021. The ferries stop at Brookfield Place Terminal in Battery Park City. Then they terminate near the St. George Terminal on Staten Island. Seastreak service to Belford began in October 2022. These ferries stop at Brookfield Place, Paulus Hook, and Pier 11/Wall Street.
NY Waterway provides free connecting bus service. These buses run on peak and off-peak routes in Manhattan below 59th Street. New York City transit buses M42 and M50 also stop near the terminal at 42nd Street. The West Midtown Ferry Terminal has seven slips. Six are usually in use. Slip 1 is used by Big City Tourism. Slip 2 is used by NYC Ferry and Seastreak. NY Waterway uses the other slips.
So, as you board your ferry, remember the West Midtown Ferry Terminal’s history. Consider its role in connecting people. This terminal is more than just a gateway. It is a testament to New York City’s resilience and innovation.