Across the country, there are approximately three million ferry riders each month, utilizing these transit services to get to work, school, healthcare appointments, and more.
In addition to FTA's longstanding Passenger Ferry Program, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established more federal support for ferry service, including for ferry systems transitioning to climate-friendly technologies and to expand ferry service in rural areas. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announced includes:
- The Passenger Ferry Program supports capital projects to buy, replace, or modernize passenger ferries, terminals, and related equipment in urban areas. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, $51 million is available.
- The Electric or Low Emitting Ferry Program provides federal support to transit agencies to buy ferry vessels that reduce emissions by using alternative fuels or on-board energy storage systems. For FY 2024, $49 million is available.
- The Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program provides federal support to ferry services in rural areas, including capital, planning, and operating costs. For FY 2024, $216 million is available.
Past grants have helped transit authorities upgrade ferry service across the country, from Alaska to Maine, to Georgia and California. Last year, FTA announced $220.2 million in project selections through its ferry programs.