FTA awards $47.5 million in Passenger Ferry Grants
Written by Nick Blenkey
Acting FTA Administrator K. Jane Williams.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced approximately $47.5 million in grant awards to selected projects across the U.S. to improve ferry access, safety, and reliability.
A total of 12 projects in 12 states will receive funding from FTA’s Passenger Ferry Grant Program.
The grants will fund projects to purchase, replace, or rehabilitate passenger ferries, terminals, and related infrastructure and equipment.
FTA received 19 eligible proposals totaling approximately $102 million in funding requests from 14 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Project proposals were evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The selected projects will receive $30 million in Fiscal Year 2020 funding and $17.5 million in prior year funding.
“Passenger ferries are an important mode of transportation across the country, providing thousands of people with access to employment, education, and other critical needs,” said Acting FTA Administrator K. Jane Williams.
Among the projects selected to receive funding:
- The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) in Jacksonville, Florida, will receive $5.2 million to modernize an existing passenger vessel to ensure a state of good repair and to purchase a new passenger vessel for service expansion.
- The Casco Bay Island Transit District in Portland, Maine, will receive $3.2 million to purchase a new electric hybrid propulsion system that will be used to power a new passenger ferry vessel as part of a vehicle replacement project.
- The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Boston, Massachusetts, will receive $3.5 million to repair two passenger ferry vessels to ensure continued service reliability, passenger safety, and a state of good repair.
Following is the complete listing:
| State | Project Sponsor | Description ▾ | Amount |
| GA | Chatham Area Transit (CAT) | Chatham Area Transit (CAT) will receive funding to purchase a new passenger ferry to meet service expansion needs. | $1,280,000 |
| ME | Casco Bay Island Transit District | The Casco Bay Island Transit District in Portland, Maine, will receive funding to purchase a new electric hybrid propulsion system that will be used to power a new passenger ferry vessel as part of a vehicle replacement project. | $3,200,000 |
| OK | Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority | The Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority will receive funding to construct a new passenger ferry landing to enhance connectivity between downtown Oklahoma City and the First Americans Museum. | $4,016,791 |
| NJ | City of South Amboy | The City of South Amboy, New Jersey will receive funding to construct a ferry terminal facility to host passenger ferry service between New Jersey and Manhattan. | $5,300,000 |
| FL | Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) | The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) will receive funding to modernize an existing passenger vessel to ensure a state of good repair and to purchase a new passenger vessel for service expansion. | $5,241,791 |
| MA | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) | The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will receive funding to repair two passenger ferry vessels to maintain safety and ensure a state of good repair. | $3,500,000 |
| LA | New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) | The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will receive funding to rehabilitate its passenger ferry terminal and marine maintenance facility, located at Lower Algiers, to maintain passenger safety and ensure a state of good repair. | $5,272,491 |
| NY | New York City Department of Transportation | The New York City Department of Transportation will receive funding to conduct maintenance at its Staten Island Ferry St. George Terminal, to enhance passenger safety and ensure a state of good repair. | $4,180,982 |
| RI | Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) | The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will receive funding to construct a new passenger ferry terminal to support existing and future ridership demands. | $1,890,000 |
| CA | San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) | The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) will receive funding to refurbish the Alameda Ferry Terminal in Alameda, California, to ensure passenger safety and a state of good repair. | $4,456,000 |
| VA | Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation | The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will receive funding to modernize the passenger ferry slips at its Jamestown Scotland Ferry Facility to maintain passenger safety and ensure a state of good repair. | $4,193,989 |
| WA | Washington State Department of Transportation, Ferries Division | The Washington State Department of Transportation, Ferries Division, will receive funding to replace propulsion system components on two passenger ferries to ensure safety, a state of good repair and continued passenger service. | $5,000,000 |
| Total: | $47,532,044 | ||
Federal public transportation law (49 USC § 5307(h)), as amended by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, authorizes FTA’s competitive Passenger Ferry Program through Fiscal Year 2020.
