The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced grants totalling nearly $300 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand and modernize the nation’s ferry systems.
In total, FTA is awarding 18 grants in projects in 14 states. The supported projects include replacing old vessels with electric ships that reduce greenhouse gas pollution and improve air quality, expanding fleets, as well as building new terminals and docks. Of the 18 projects, eight are receiving support for environmentally friendly propulsion technologies such as electric ferries and charging equipment.
The funding will be sourced through three FTA competitive grant programs:
FTA noted that its ferry programs invest in improving ferry service in urban and rural communities by providing federal support to acquire modern, “greener” ferry boats and upgrading equipment to support high-quality, low-emission ferry service.
The recipients of the funding for Fiscal Year 2024 include:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented: “Ferries serve Americans who depend heavily on this form of transit because of where they live—and the Biden-Harris Administration is making sure people have access to more reliable, cleaner ferry service. These funds will make it easier for Americans to move about their day while also protecting the rivers and waterways they depend on economically.”
FTA’s Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool said: “This historic funding for FTA’s Ferry Programs will enhance ways for people to travel by water. We applaud ferry agencies for taking the big step toward electrification, increasing reliability, and bringing their aging ferry systems into a state of good repair.”
To remind, in 2023, FTA announced $384.4 million in federal funding by the Biden-Harris administration for expanding and improving the nation’s ferry service in communities across the country. FTA awarded 23 grants across 11 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.