Staten Island Ferry resumes normal schedule after delays caused by "systemic" staffing shortage
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NEW YORK -- It was another morning of Staten Island Ferry delays for thousands who rely on the service to get to and from New York City.
Ferry service had been suspended overnight Wednesday into Thursday because of staffing shortages, which have caused delays over the last several days.
Service resumed slowly at 6 a.m. Thursday, running every hour instead of the normal 30-minute intervals.
By Thursday evening, the city said staffing had returned to near-normal levels and ferries were running on a normal schedule.
CLICK HERE for the latest service updates.
Passengers frustrated with hourly service: "It's pretty annoying"
As CBS2's Zinnia Maldonado reported, some passengers arriving at St. George Terminal didn't even know service was going to be disrupted, and with the ferry only running once per hour, it's going to be an all-day issue.
"It's going to make me late for work and late to get home and everything else," one commuter said.
Crowds gathered around the gates, waiting for a coveted seat.
"It's an inconvenience," another rider said.
"It's frustrating for sure. I've got to get to work, and I'm a teacher. I've got to be on time, or else there's issues," said Abby Santorum. "So it's pretty annoying."
The ferry typically runs every 30, 20 or 15 minutes, depending on time of day. However, due to staffing shortages, it's only running at the top of every hour Thursday.
The city is offering free rides on NYC Ferry boats right next door to the terminal as a second option, taking passengers to the Battery Maritime Building in Manhattan.
"I mean, for me, it's OK," one passenger said.
Not everyone was a fan of Plan B.
"It's not a great solution. At least they're doing something. The reality is this has been going on for weeks, and they're just formally addressing it now. So it's a little too little too late," said Candace Lopez.
"I don't trust them. They go too fast. They're smaller, and it's going to be more packed. So I don't need that," another rider said.
Ferry service was suspended overnight before picking back up at 6 a.m. Thursday.
The lack of service was caused by ongoing labor challenges, according to Mayor Eric Adams, who said a number of employees didn't show up to work Wednesday.
"From my understanding, which is surprising, the union has been negotiating for about 11 years. So this is something that I inherited," the mayor said.
"Eleven years is a long time. Do you blame them?" said one passenger. "I don't blame them."
Those planning to take the ferry Thursday don't need a ticket, and service will be running every 15 minutes during the afternoon rush.
Adams discouraged any nonessential travel on the ferry, adding the city is working closely with the MTA to accelerate bus service.
Service resumes after suspension overnight
Ferry service resumed at 6 a.m. Thursday, with the first boat leaving from St. George's Terminal.
Service had been suspended overnight, leaving commuters in the lurch.
"I get up early in the morning, I need to be at work at a certain time, and I depend on the boats to get me there," Staten Island resident Norman Senk told CBS2 on Wednesday night.
"I have to take a train when I get to Staten Island, this is not the end of my commute. So it's adding a lot of time onto my workday," resident Robin DiPalma added.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella called the staffing shortages "systemic."
"If it's an isolated case, OK get get it. But now it's systemic, it's chronic, and it's almost as if they're being used as pawns in this process, and it's very unfair," he said.
Typically, ferries run every 20 minutes from 4 to 5 p.m., and then every 15 minutes from 5 to 7 p.m. But on Thursday, service will only be hourly.
"It's one hour, it's a big problem," said resident Leonit Rutman.
The city asks commuters to find alternate ways to travel to and from Staten Island.
"If I can't get on the boat, I'm going to have to take an Uber, which will cost me more money," resident Robert McKofkey said.
Mayor Eric Adams is offering free NYPD ferry rides from a slip directly next door to St. George Terminal. But with a smaller capacity, delays are still anticipated.
"We are going to use our ferries that carry up to 300 people, our smaller ferries. We're going to use the Sandy Ground to get people to and from. We're going to use buses, we're going to use everything that we have to get people to and from," he said.
CLICK HERE for the latest service updates.
Evening commute in chaos
Staten Island Ferry service was suspended overnight Wednesday after riders had to deal with a third day of delays due to staffing shortages.
As CBS2's Lisa Rozner reported, people packed into Whitehall Terminal like sardines in the sweltering heat waiting for a 5:30 p.m. ferry ride home to Staten Island.
The last ferry left Lower Manhattan at 10:30 p.m., even though riders had been told they would be running hourly until 2 a.m.
Remaining commuters were told to take the NYC Ferry next door.