FTA: $657M in new ferry grants available

Image: FTA

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity inviting applications for $657 million in ferry grants.

“Under President Trump, America is building again and that includes our nation’s ferry fleet responsible for moving American families,” said Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy. “This investment will expand routes and fund new ferries to give American workers and families more transportation options in both rural and urban cities.” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

According to the NOFO:

• $105 million in competitive grants is available for the FY 2026 Passenger Ferry Program
• $98 million in competitive grants is available for the Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program (Low-No Ferry Program)
• $454 million in competitive grants is available for the Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program (Rural Ferry Program).

The Department of Transportation says that, to make travel more family-friendly on America’s waterways and jumpstart economic growth, it has outlined the following criteria for project selection:

Benefits for families: How a project will make ferry travel more family-friendly and improve access to jobs, doctor’s offices, and leisure activities.

Safety: How a project will improve the accessibility of transportation for families with young children, including those with strollers, and increase accessibility for people with disabilities, including persons with intellectual, developmental, sensory, or mobility disabilities.

Wayfinding improvements: How a project will make real-time information in passenger waiting areas easier to read by using large print and simplified language.

Applicants are encouraged to submit eligible projects as soon as possible and must do so by May 11, 2026.

• Read the NOFO HERE