SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In an effort to modernize the ferry systems across the United States, the Biden administration has announced a plan to distribute $200 million in grants, officials revealed on Thursday.
The grant program aims to prioritize the expansion of ferry service in rural communities, facilitating the acquisition of modern ferries, including electric boats, and the enhancement of shore infrastructure to support low-emission ferry service, according to officials.
Twelve ferry operators in American Somoa and the states of California, Washington, Alaska, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and North Carolina will be the recipients of the grants, announced Nuria Fernandez, administrator of the Federal Transit Administration.
During a news conference held at San Francisco’s Ferry Building, Fernandez emphasized, “The grants help transit agencies make investments to increase reliability, improve connections to other modes of transportation, and bring older ferry systems into a state of good repair.”
Specifically, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority is set to receive nearly $16 million to retrofit two existing ferry floats in the cities of Alameda and San Francisco. Additionally, the New York City Department of Transportation will receive close to $7.5 million to construct shoreside terminal infrastructure for rapid charging of vessels serving Governors Island, which is only accessible by ferry. The implementation of the new charging system is expected to reduce emissions, lower maintenance costs, and enhance reliability for riders, as per officials.
