Passenger Ferry Grant Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 20.532
- Agency
-
Federal Transit Administration
Department of Transportation
- Grant awards
- 15 $533,597,865 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Ferry Programs
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury accounts
-
- 69-1144-0-1-403
- 69-1146-0-1-403
- 69-2812-0-1-401
- 69-8350-0-1-401
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration funds capital projects, vessel acquisition, and operating assistance for passenger ferry systems through the Passenger Ferry Grant Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program under Assistance Listing 20.532, with the most recent grant award made on August 21, 2026.
The program funds three distinct activities: acquisition and modernization of ferry vessels (including hybrid-electric, diesel-electric, and zero-emission designs), related infrastructure such as terminals and charging stations, and operating assistance for rural ferry services. Recent awards reflect a strong emphasis on vessel replacement and low-emission technology. The Alaska Marine Highway System received $294.3 million to replace the 60-year-old M/V Tustumena with a modern vessel featuring diesel-electric propulsion; Maine received $35 million to construct a hybrid-electric ferry for rural island service; and Delaware received $74.4 million for a diesel-electric hybrid ferry to replace an aging vessel. Other recipients funded charging infrastructure installation (Savannah), solar-powered ferries (Massachusetts), vessel upgrades (Alaska), and maintenance facility planning (North Carolina).
Over the past four years, the portfolio generated 15 awards totaling $533.6 million in federal obligations, with combined total project value (including recipient cost-share) of $763 million. Awards have accelerated: two in 2023, seven in 2024, four in 2025, and two through August 2026. All awards are Project Grants. The Federal Transit Administration is the sole funding agency across all awards. Individual award magnitudes range from $500 thousand to $294.3 million, with most capital projects in the $3 million to $35 million range and Alaska's fleet modernization substantially larger.
The FY 2026 Passenger Ferry Grant Program opportunity (FTA-2026-005-TPM-FERRY) offered $105 million competitively with an application deadline of May 11, 2026. The most recent open competitive opportunities from 2024 are now closed. For the Passenger Ferry Grant Program, eligible applicants are designated recipients or direct recipients of Urbanized Area Formula funds and public entities engaged in providing public transportation passenger ferry service in urban areas. The Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program accepts designated and direct recipients of Section 5307 and Section 5311 funding, including states, territories, and tribal governments. The Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program limits eligibility to states and territories. All three programs allow a project period of the year of allocation plus five years.
Objective and description
- Objective
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 El
- Description
The Passenger Ferry Grant Program makes federal funds available to designated recipients or eligible direct recipients of Urbanized Area Formula funds to support ferry capital projects. 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.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
For the Passenger Ferry Program, eligible applicants are designated recipients or direct recipients of FTA's Urbanized Area Formula Grants, as well as public entities engaged in providing public transportation passenger ferry service in urban areas that are eligible to be direct recipients. For the Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program are Designated/Direct Recipients of Section 5307 funding, including Designated/Direct Recipients of Section 5311 funding, including States, Territories and Tribal Governments. For the Ferry Service for Rural Communities, eligible recipients are States and territories.
- Credentials and documentation
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.Gov. A complete proposal submission for each program consists of two forms: the SF-424 Application For Federal Assistance and the supplemental form for each program.
- Uses of assistance
Passenger Ferry Grant Program: Capital assistance to support existing ferry service, establish new ferry service, and repair and modernize ferry boasts, terminals, and related facilities and equipment. Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program: Capital assistance to support the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferry vessels that reduce emissions by using alternative fuels or on-board energy storage systems and related charging infrastructure to reduce emissions or produce zero onboard emissions under normal operation. Ferry Service Rural Communities: Capital, planning, and operating assistance for an eligible ferry service that operated a regular schedule at any time during the five-year period ending March 1, 2020.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
For all three ferry programs it's the year of allocation plus 5 years.
How to apply
- Application procedure
• A complete proposal submission consists of two forms: SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance and the supplemental form for the competitive program. • Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.Gov. • Application may attach additional supporting information to the SF-424 submission. • Project proposal must be submitted electronically through Grants.Gov by the due date. • Recipients selected for funding submits grant application into TrAMS to obligate funds.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Projects will be evaluated primarily on the responses provided in the application supplemental form. Projects proposals are evaluated based on the criteria described in the notice of funding opportunity.
- Award procedure
After the technical evaluation, projects recommended for funding are presented to senior management for review. The FTA Administrator will determine the final selection of projects for program funding. Final project selections are posting on the FTA website along with any implementation guidance.
- Deadlines
Contact FTA HQ for additional information.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 15 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AK State Department Of Public Transportation | $449,366,865 | 84% |
| 2 | Maine Department Of Transportation | $32,991,474 | 6% |
| 3 | Delaware River & Bay Authority | $20,000,000 | 4% |
| 4 | Michigan Department Of Passenger Transportation Divsion Transportation | $15,628,285 | 3% |
| 5 | Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District | $6,000,000 | 1% |
| 6 | Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority | $4,200,000 | 1% |
| 7 | Maryland Transit Administration | $2,975,000 | 1% |
| 8 | North Carolina Department Of Transportation | $1,745,241 | <1% |
| 9 | Chatham Area Transit Authority | $691,000 | <1% |
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $198,468,496 |
| FY2025 | $102,968,656 |
| FY2024 | $220,540,946 |
| FY2023 | $11,619,759 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 20.532?
Assistance Listing 20.532 is Passenger Ferry Grant Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program, a federal grant program run by Federal Transit Administration (Department of Transportation).
What is the CFDA number for Passenger Ferry Grant Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program?
Its CFDA number is 20.532: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 20.532 awarded?
15 grant awards under 20.532 have obligated $533,597,865 in federal funds to 9 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 20.532?
The recipients obligated the most under Passenger Ferry Grant Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program are AK State Department Of Public Transportation ($449,366,865), Maine Department Of Transportation ($32,991,474) and Delaware River & Bay Authority ($20,000,000).
How much did 20.532 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 20.532 obligated $102,968,656 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 20.532?
No opportunity listed under 20.532 is open now. The latest, FY 2026 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Passenger Ferry Grant Program, was posted on April 6, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every grant award and opportunity under it
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