Work has begun on the Carteret Multimodal Ferry Terminal Building in northeastern New Jersey, a major infrastructure project on the Arthur Kill waterfront across from Staten Island, N.Y.
Its groundbreaking took place Dec. 12, 2025, at a former Dupont-owned Brownfield site, marking a significant step in a plan that was years in the making, MyCentralJersey.com reported Dec. 15.
In late October, the Borough of Carteret awarded a $47.5 million construction contract to Brockwell & Carrington Contractors Inc. of Montville, N.J. The firm will build a four-story, 52,000-sq.-ft. ferry hub intended to also serve commuters and visitors with retail, restaurants and recreational space.
Architect Tom Potter, with Union, N.J.'s Potter Architects LLC, estimated each floor of the facility will encompass approximately 13,000 sq. ft.
"What began as an idea — a bold vision to reintroduce ferry service back to Carteret for the first time since the 1950's — has grown into one of the most significant infrastructure projects in our borough's history," Mayor Daniel J. Reiman said in a news release. "This terminal will serve as the gateway for thousands of commuters, residents and visitors. It will provide new, convenient access to New York City and other destinations while reducing roadway congestion and opening new opportunities for job creation and economic growth here in Carteret."
He added, "But this terminal is more than a building and for more than just commuters. It represents progress, partnership and a shared commitment to provide our residents with the modern transportation options they deserve. It will stand as a symbol of Carteret's continued transformation and waterfront development — from an older industrial town to a community revitalizing its waterfront, and as a regional destination for commerce, recreation and innovation."
The proposed ferry terminal, in the planning stages since the start of the Reiman Administration 24 years ago, is expected to take 18 to 24 months to build, with its completion targeted for December 2027.
More than $86 million in federal and state grants has been secured for the terminal's construction. Other funding includes $1.9 million from the NJ Urban Enterprise Zone Authority for retail space, $5 million from the Carteret Business Partnership to be distributed over five years and $5.38 million from the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program.
Construction already completed at the ferry terminal site includes a new steel sheet pile bulkhead, shoreline dredging, terminal docks and gangplanks. Work on a 700-space parking lot also is under way.
Reiman said initial ferry service is projected to run three or four daily trips to and from Manhattan, potentially increasing as demand grows. Intermodal features will allow transfers with NJ Transit buses, municipal jitneys and NJ Rideshare.
Once the ferry is open, riders will be able to pay for using the service via either a dockside kiosk or smartphone app.
Reiman Hailed as Driving Force Behind New Terminal
Multiple state and local leaders attended the kickoff event marking the beginning of the work on the Carteret Multimodal Ferry Terminal Building, including New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Francis K. O'Connor, New Jersey's transportation commissioner.
"I am proud to deliver the expansion of ferry service to New York City from Carteret," Murphy said. "From the beginning of my administration, we have invested in expanding environmentally friendly transportation infrastructure that provides commuters with more options and reduces traffic on our roads. I am grateful to Mayor Reiman and our partners in Carteret for bringing to life this new transportation hub that will drive economic growth in the area."
Coughlin offered his perspective on the project when he said that throughout his 16 years as a representative of Carteret's citizens, he has come to realize that the community and its leaders have a "truly special" vision for the borough, one that is "unyielding and relentless."
In addition, Coughlin said that Reiman's concept was one the mayor was committed to and built partnerships around.
For instance, he explained, the State of New Jersey committed $30 million to the ferry terminal's development, a testament Reiman's effort to make "Carteret the best it can be more than [any other mayor] who has preceded him."
