U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined state and local transit leaders Thursday to discuss the more than $168 million in federal funds directed to Washington state ferries in 2021.
Murray said the funds, part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), helped keep ferries and Washington state commuters moving during the COVID-19 pandemic and that an additional $2.9 million was secured to make major upgrades in service.
“Like so many others in our state, ferries are a part of my commute, so I know first-hand just how important it is that they are running quickly, on schedule, and safely to get people where they need to go,” Murray said. “I know how much reliable public transit means to families and workers. So when COVID hit and just devastated our public transit agencies, I knew the federal government had to step up.”
Speaking in from the Kitsap Peninsula, Murray said other state and regional transit organizations had received vital aid from the ARP, including more than $30 million for Kitsap Transit to assist in keeping public transportation operational.
Murray was joined by Roger Millar, Washington Secretary of Transportation; John Clauson, Executive Director of Kitsap Transit; Greg Wheeler, Mayor of Bremerton; Morgan Fanberg, PE, Glosten President; and Lisa Renehan, PE, Vice President, Glosten and Managing Director, Foil Ferry, LLC.
“As the agency with the nation’s largest ferry system, we strive to be a leader for sustainable growth, reducing congestion on roads and embracing new, greener technologies while providing safe and reliable service. Electrification of our fleet and terminals is a key part of our overall transportation system stewardship,” Millar said.
Washington state is set to receive at least $4.7 billion for highway funding, $605 million for bridge replacement and repairs, $1.79 billion for public transportation, and $71 million to support the expansion of an electric vehicle charging network across the state as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.