Waste of the Day: Staten Island Ferry Makes Millionaires

Key Takeaways:

• The Staten Island Ferry is free to ride but expensive to run.
• Seventeen ferry engineers made over $1 million in 2024.
• Their combined salaries totaled $23.1 million.
• The story first appeared on September 15, 2025.
• Taxpayers are shouldering these costs.

The Hidden Costs of Free Ferry Rides

The Staten Island Ferry has long been a staple of daily commutes and tourist excursions. Its most notable feature is that it remains free to all passengers, offering a scenic ride between Manhattan and Staten Island. However, despite the lack of fares, a recent report has revealed that the public is paying in other ways.

Sky-High Salaries

According to a story from Myheraldreview, seventeen of the engineers operating the Staten Island Ferry each earned over $1 million in 2024. Altogether, these high salaries cost a total of $23.1 million. The article cites these figures as indicative of a startling reality: while rides are free, running the service is far from inexpensive.

Taxpayer Burden

The fact that rides on the ferry come with no fare might help the public, but it shifts the financial load to the city and its taxpayers. The Myheraldreview story suggests that a significant portion of municipal funds goes toward compensating just a handful of ferry employees. Many find it surprising that a public service, ostensibly free of charge, is costing millions in payroll.

A Look Ahead

Though the article gives little detail on how such large paychecks have accumulated, it captures the public’s attention by highlighting the broad gap between offering a no-cost ride to travelers and the actual cost of maintaining ferry operations. City officials and taxpayers alike may look more closely at these expenses in the future, especially as budgets for municipal services face increased scrutiny.