DOT Announces $220M To Modernize Passenger Ferry Service
Eligible applicants: local authorities. Applications are due: July 17, 2023
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (this program is currently accepting applications)
Opportunity:
FY 2023 Competitive Funding Opportunity:
Passenger Ferry Grant Program
Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program
Overview and Eligible Uses: The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the availability of $220 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support or modernize passenger ferry service in rural and urban communities across the country. Two grant programs are included in this NOFO:
The Passenger Ferry Program provides funding to improve the condition and quality of existing passenger ferry services, support the establishment of new passenger ferry services, and repair and modernize ferry boats, terminals, and related facilities and equipment.
The Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program is a competitive grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which provides funding to ensure essential ferry service in rural communities. The funding supports capital, planning, and operating assistance to support or expand ferry services in rural areas.
Amount: For Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, there is a total funding allocation of $220 million. Within this budget, $50.1 million has been designated for the Passenger Ferry Program, with $5 million specifically allocated for low- or zero-emission ferries and related facilities/equipment. Additionally, $170 million is available for the Rural Communities program.
Award Type: Grants
Eligible Applicants:
Eligible applicants for the Passenger Ferry Program are:
Designated recipients as defined in FTA Circular “Urbanized Area Formula Program: Program Guidance and Application Instructions”
Direct recipients of FTA’s Urbanized Area Formula Grants, as well as public entities engaged in providing public transportation passenger ferry service in urban areas that are eligible to be direct recipients.
Eligible applicants for the Rural Ferry Program are:
States and Territories in which eligible service is operated. Eligible service is described in the NOFO.
*Applicants must not have attributed data to an urbanized area in their most recent report to the National Transit Database for their ferry services.
Key Dates: Applications are due July 17, 2023
Key Links:
For a full list of currently available grant programs under the Infrastructure Law and other helpful tools, take a look at our Helpful Resources page.
This tracker will continue to send updates when new funding opportunities are announced.