Staten Island Ferry to resume regular rush-hour service next week

The Staten Island Ferry will resume regular rush-hour service levels next week amid a spike in ridership, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday.

“More and more Staten Islanders are coming back to work, so we’re seeing ridership up to 17,000 daily this week — that’s a major step up,” Hizzoner said.

“We’ve got to keep the ferry safe — we got to allow for social distancing — so we’re bringing back more rush hour service.”

Starting Monday, ferries will run every 15 minutes during the morning and evening rush hours, between 7 a.m and 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., the mayor said.

Ferries will also depart every 20 minutes from 6 to 7 a.m. and 3:50 to 4:50 p.m.

“Passengers will have the space they need to stay safe,” de Blasio said.

The Staten Island Ferry carried 70,000 passengers per day before the coronavirus pandemic, but had reduced its service amid the outbreak.

Last month, city officials put down tape “X”s across every other ferry seat to demarcate where riders should and should not sit.

The city’s recently-approved budget slashed $5.5 million from overnight ferry service.