ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y.–The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) decided to cease the operation of the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry on Jan. 23, after months of inoperation.
The decision brought the ire of New York politicians, including Rep. Pat Ryan, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, and Assemblyman Anil Beephan Jr.
The ferry has been in operation since 2005. Commuters used the ferry to get to the Metro-North train station in Beacon, which can bring travelers all the way to New York City. The ferry helped commuters avoid traffic on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.
The ferry had 31,950 riders in 2024. The MTA says ridership peaked in 2008, when it was about three times the 2024 number….