2/7/2020

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for approximately $30 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 competitive grant funding for passenger ferry projects nationwide. The Passenger Ferry Grant Program is authorized by Congress for projects that develop and support ferry service on many of the nation’s waterways, including the purchase, repair, and modernization of ferry boats, terminals, and related facilities that communities depend on.

"FTA’s Passenger Ferry Grant Program is committed to helping improve mobility for the millions of Americans who rely on ferry service," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams.

FTA will award competitive grants to states and public entities to purchase, repair, or modernize ferry boats, terminals, and related facilities and equipment, supporting existing ferry service and the establishment of new passenger ferry service.

The NOFO also encourages applicants to demonstrate how their proposed projects are consistent with the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (R.O.U.T.E.S.) and Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) initiatives.

Projects will be evaluated and selected based on criteria outlined in the NOFO, including the need for improvements, demonstration of benefits to transit service, and integration with local and regional long-term planning.  Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 30, 2020.

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 FY2020, subject to annual appropriations.

In the previous round of grants, the FY 2019 Passenger Ferry Grant Program funded nine projects in nine states totaling $32.8 million.  

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