The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced $384.4 million in federal funding for expanding and improving the nation’s ferry service in communities across the country, as well as accelerating the transition to zero-emission transportation.
In total, FTA is awarding 23 grants across 11 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Grants will fund projects including the replacement of old vessels, expanding fleets, and building new terminals and docks.
For the state of Alaska, the award means nearly $286 million of investment in the Alaska Marine Highway, which serves remote locations throughout the state.
Nearly $100 million of the national grants will go toward low- and no-emission ferries, helping decrease greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
With these grants, we are improving and expanding ferry service in the communities that rely on waterways the most—often in more rural, remote regions—connecting people to jobs, services, and city centers while cutting climate pollution
said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
- FTA’s Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program provides competitive funding to states for ferry service in rural areas. FTA is awarding $252.4 million to eight projects in four states.
- FTA’s Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program provides competitive funding for electric or low-emitting ferries and charging equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by using alternative fuels or onboard energy storage systems. FTA is awarding $97.6 million to seven projects in seven states.
- FTA’s Passenger Ferry Grant Program supports capital projects to establish new ferry services, and repair and modernize ferry vessels, terminals, and facilities and equipment in urbanized areas. FTA is awarding $34.4 million to eight projects in six states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Today’s announcement represents a record amount of support for transit ferries in our country. And thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, for the first time ever, we are able to provide competitive grant funds for passenger ferry service in rural areas and help ferry operators reduce their climate impact
added FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez.
