Ferry operations 2026-2028

The Federal Highway Administration awarded the Washington State Department of Transportation $492,461 on May 28, 2026, under the Construction of Ferry Boats and Ferry Terminal Facilities Program (CFDA 20.270) to fund ferry operations for the Pierce County Ferry System through December 31, 2028. The award covers operating costs including planning, budgeting, ferry operator contract management, public communications, and internal and external reporting.

The FBP program, reauthorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, funds construction of ferry boats and terminal facilities serving vehicular and passenger transit on public highways, and allows eligible entities to use allocated funds for operating costs under certain conditions. FBP distributes funds to states and territories via statutory formula based on passenger volume (35 percent), vehicle volume (35 percent), and total route nautical miles (30 percent), with an annual minimum of $100,000 guaranteed to any state with eligible ferry systems.

Work is performed in Washington State. The Washington State Department of Transportation's Accounting and Financial Services Division, which administers the award, operates as a prime recipient of formula-based FHWA transportation funding and does not subcontract to private vendors; instead, it manages sub-grantee relationships with county and municipal transportation agencies and ferry operators.

Project description

Operating costs of the pierce county ferry system, including planning, budgeting, ferry operator contract management, public communications, internal/external reporting, and other work as required.