The Biden administration will issue $220 million in grants to modernize the country’s ferry systems and replace some aging vessels with electric boats.
The grant program announced Thursday will focus on expanding ferry service in rural communities, helping them acquire modern ferries, and upgrading shore infrastructure to support low-emission ferry service.
Twelve ferry operators in the territory of American Samoa and the states of California, Washington, Alaska, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina will receive grants.
The grant package is funded by President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which he signed in 2021. The law authorizes up to $108 billion for public transportation improvements.
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WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO?
The list of 12 grants issued in 2023 can be found here. The projects are in these states and territories:
ALASKA
AMERICAN SAMOA
CALIFORNIA
MAINE
MICHIGAN
NEW JERSEY
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
WASHINGTON
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WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WILL BE FUNDED?
In the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority and the Golden Gate Ferry will receive about $22 million to retrofit two of their existing ferry floats in the cities of Alameda and San Francisco and replace the ferry landing at Sausalito Ferry Terminal.
In the state of New York, the New York City Department of Transportation will receive nearly $7.5 million to build shoreside terminal infrastructure to enable rapid charging of future hybrid-electric vessels serving Governors Island, which is only accessible by ferry. The new charging system will reduce emissions, decrease maintenance costs and improve reliability for riders, officials said.
In Washington state, the Washington State Department of Transportation, Ferries Division will receive funding to refurbish six ferry vessels built between 1979 and 1982.
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