Washington Ferries Receive $11.6M for Upgrades, Electrification
As part of a push to electrify ferries, Washington State Ferries will receive $11.6 million from the Federal Transit Administration to make various upgrades and improvements to their system, according to The Seattle Times.
Of the total, $4.9 million will help build an electric ferry charging system, $5 million will be spent on dock improvements, and $1.7 million will go toward transitioning to an electric payment processing system.
The funding comes as part of a broader push to electrify ferries, with Washington State passing an electrification plan that calls for 16 new or converted electric ferries and charging stations. Lawmakers have already earmarked $1.3 billion for the construction of five of these new electric ferries, which aren’t expected to be operational until 2027, according to The Seattle Times.
In addition to the billions in earmarks for new ferries, Washington State government will spend another $14.4 million to build electric charging stations.
Other investments include making certain docks more friendly to pedestrian passengers and updating the Southworth dock to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
Washington State Ferries is one of the largest ferry systems in the U.S., with 17.3 million riders in 2021. This transportation system shouldn’t need massive federal funding to operate and make basic service improvements, and should save for major investments like any other business.
More importantly, these ambitious and costly projects are best taken in moderation. Even with tens of millions flowing from multiple government entities, Washington State is still years away from reaching these goals, leaving taxpayers with the bill for services that are years down the line.
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