<Tr> <Th> Daily ridership </Th> <Td> 65,479 trips per day (July 2016 to June 2017) </Td> </Tr> <P> The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry route operated by the New York City Department of Transportation . The ferry's single route runs 5.2 miles (8.4 km) through New York Harbor between the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island, with ferry boats making the trip in approximately 25 minutes . The ferry operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with boats leaving every 15 to 20 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes at other times . It is the only direct mass - transit connection between the two boroughs . Historically, the Staten Island Ferry has charged a relatively low fare compared to other modes of transit in the area; and since 1997, the route has been fare - free . The Staten Island Ferry is one of several ferry systems in the New York City area, and is operated separately from other systems such as NYC Ferry and NY Waterway . </P> <P> The Staten Island Ferry route terminates at Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and St. George Terminal in St. George, Staten Island . At Whitehall Street, connections are available to the New York City Subway and several local New York City Bus routes . On the St. George side, there are transfers to the Staten Island Railway and to the St. George Bus Terminal's many bus routes . Passengers on any bus or subway route can exit at Whitehall Street, take the ferry for free, and use their MetroCard farecards for a free transfer to a bus or train at St. George . The same is true for passengers from Staten Island who want to transfer to the subway or bus in Manhattan by riding the Staten Island Ferry . </P> <P> The Staten Island Ferry originated in 1817, when the Richmond Turnpike Company started a steamboat service from Manhattan to Staten Island . Cornelius Vanderbilt bought the Richmond Turnpike Company in 1838, and it was merged with two competitors in 1853 . The combined company was in turn sold to the Staten Island Railroad Company in 1864 . The Staten Island Ferry was then sold to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1884, and the City of New York assumed control of the ferry in 1905 . </P>

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