# Passenger Ferry Grant Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program (20.532)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/20-532-passenger-ferry-grant-program-electric-or-low-emitting/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

Passenger Ferry Grant Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program is run by Department of Transportation. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $335 million in 13 grants, about $25.8 million per award.

## Objectives

The Passenger Ferry Grant Program provides funding for passenger ferries through a competitive process for capital projects that support passenger ferry systems in urbanized areas, such as ferry vessels, terminals, and related infrastructure.
The Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program makes federal funds available to projects that supports the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferry vessels.
The Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program makes federal funds available to states to ensure basic essential ferry service is provided to rural areas.
Refer to this Assistance Listing (AL) Number for FY24 and FY25 financial obligations. In August 2025, this AL was divided into three program?specific listings: Electric or Low?Emitting Passenger Ferry Program – 20.538, Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program – 20.539, and Passenger Ferry Program – 20.540. These new listings will be used by DOT beginning in FY 2026.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $0 | 0 |
| 2022 | $0 | 0 |
| 2023 | $11.6 million | 2 |
| 2024 | $221 million | 6 |
| 2025 | $103 million | 7 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AK State Department of Public Transportation | Alaska | $257 million |
| Maine Department of Transportation | Maine | $33.0 million |
| Delaware River & Bay Authority | Delaware | $20.0 million |
| Transportation, Michigan Department of Passenger Transportation Divsion | Michigan | $15.6 million |
| Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority | Massachusetts | $4.2 million |
| Maryland Transit Administration | Maryland | $3.0 million |
| North Carolina Department of Transportation | North Carolina | $1.7 million |
| Chatham Area Transit Authority | Georgia | $691,000 |