Connecticut will receive $200,000 in federal funding to improve its ferry services, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.
The $200,000 is only a small slice of the $172.2 million that is going to 35 states and three territories. The funds will go directly to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration’s website states.
“Many Americans rely on ferry service as a primary means of travel, making it a critical connection to jobs, health care, and other daily needs,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement Friday. “The funding we are announcing today will continue and enhance ferry service for communities across the country.”
The state Department of Transportation owns and operates two seasonal ferries across the Connecticut River. One ferry goes between Rocky Hill and Glastonbury, while the other travels between Chester and Hadlyme.
The funding typically goes to constructing ferry boats, terminals and ferry maintenance facilities. The funds can also go toward transit vehicles such as buses and shuttles to transport passengers, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
The new funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will provide $912 million to the Federal Highway Administration’s Ferry Boat Program over five years. This is more than double the funding the federal government provided to ferries in 2015 through the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act.
Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack said the increased funding will improve the experience for commuters.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has substantially increased funding for ferry boats to help improve the quality of life and make it easier for commuters to get to their destinations,” Pollack said in a statement.
“In all of the states and territories receiving funding, ferry boat service is an important part of transportation in helping to improve mobility and access to important services in these communities,” Pollack added.
Read More: CT receives $200K in federal funding for ferry services