Ferry Funds Allocated

The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) provides discretionary funding for the construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities. The TEA-21 includes a requirement that $20 million from FY 2000 be set aside for marine highway systems for use by the States of Alaska, New Jersey and Washington. The funds have been allocated as follows: $10 million for the state of Alaska, and $5 million each for New Jersey and Washington. These funds are available for the construction or refurbishing of ferry boats and ferry terminals, with certain restrictions. Additionally, Congress earmarked $11.2 million of funding for 12 specific constructions of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities. There was considerable demand for the discretionary funds. In total, 74 candidate projects from 28 States and Puerto Rico were submitted requesting a total estimated cost of $88.6 million. The earmarking added an additional six projects not originally submitted, resulting in a total demand of 80 candidate projects requesting $93.6 million.