Woods Hole, Mass., will soon benefit from a new ferry terminal, thanks in large part to a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
Provided through the USDOT’s Passenger Ferry Grant Program, the new terminal is intended to service Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, running ships throughout Cape Cod and nearby islands. The Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA) will be the official recipient of the funds.
“Investments in local infrastructure like the new ferry terminal in Woods Hole boost our local economy and improve the travel experiences of both residents and visitors,” U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). “This is great news for the Steamship Authority, our communities on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, and for the thousands of visitors who travel to these historic islands every year.”
Warren was joined by U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) and U.S. Rep. William Keating (D-MA) last June in writing the Federal Transit Administration in support of the SSA’s grant application. With the new funds, the organization hopes to replace a facility that is currently almost 60 years old and creates a structure better capable of serving vessel operations.
“The unique natural geography of the Cape and Islands presents tough challenges for our region’s infrastructure,” Keating said. “Thankfully, our local officials have a long track record of finding novel ways to use federal funding to meet these challenges. That is why I am proud to have worked with the Steamship Authority as it aggressively pursued this federal funding from the Passenger Ferry Grant Program. Their tireless work and their continued cooperation with the Regional Transit Authority ensure that when federal funding is available, we can demonstrate that we will put it good use in our community.”