Majority leader Shawn Abreu has proposed a ferry route from 125th Street in West Harlem that would arrive in Edgewater, New Jersey, in fewer than 10 minutes.
He said it would improve access and allow fans to bypass bridges and tunnels, which would also help reduce congestion on the George Washington Bridge.
"Charging fans $150 for a nine-mile train ride that normally costs $12.90 is indefensible. That is not a transit plan, it is a shakedown," Abreu said. "There is no excuse for New York and New Jersey to be the most expensive place in the world to simply get to a World Cup match, let alone attend."
The councilman says his ferry proposal would all be paid for with federal funds.
"The Federal Transit Administration has set aside millions of dollars for cities, World Cups, and host cities specifically, to provide affordable or even free transit, and so that's what we're calling for here," Abreu said.
A shuttle service would still be needed to cover the nine miles from Edgewater to MetLife Stadium and the cost of the ferry ride has yet to be determined.
The West Harlem dock has existed since 2009, but hasn't seen much action until The Harlem Rocket, a tourist boat, recently started using it.
Proponents say a permanent Harlem-New Jersey ferry could boost business on both sides of the Hudson.
But to get it ready for the World Cup, the clock is ticking.
"We penned a letter to the mayor as well as to the Office of Economic Development," Abreu said. "They have until May 11 to apply for these federal funds."
Eyewitness News reached out to the mayor of Edgewater, who said this was all news to him. He said he thinks it would make more sense for the ferry to go to Weehawken.
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