U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski announced the introduction of the U.S. Ferry Systems Investment Act of 2009. This bill would dramatically increase federal support for the country’s ferry systems.
The U.S. Ferry Systems Investment Act of 2009 would make available $200 million a year in funding for ferry systems across the country starting in FY2010, and would run through FY2015. Divided into two parts, half of the money ($100 million a year) would be distributed according to a formula that takes into account factors such as how many passengers use the ferry system each year, how many vehicles are carried, and how many total miles the routes contain. At this time Senator Murkowski’s office believes AMHS will receive approximately $15 million, which is $5 million more than they receive now through the formula. The other half ($100 million a year) would be distributed at the discretion of the Secretary of Transportation using a competitive process.
In addition to the funding changes, the bill also includes the following additional provisions to strengthen ferry systems across the country:
· Makes ferry systems eligible to compete for funding under the Clean Fuels Grant Program.
· Establishes a Ferry Joint Program Office within U.S. DOT to coordinate federal programs (DOT, DHS, etc.) affecting ferry and ferry facility construction, maintenance, operations and security, and to promote ferry transportation as a component of the U.S. transportation system.
· Requires U.S. DOT to ensure the National Ferry Database is consistent with the database maintained by the Federal Transit Administration.
Ferry transportation is very important to Southeast Alaska. The Alaska Marine Highway System serves 30 communities along routes that total more than 3,000 miles. This funding comes at a crucial time as AMHS works to replace our aging ferry fleet.
Senate Bill 930 was introduced on April 29, 2009, and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. A companion bill HR2172, co-sponsored by Rep. Don Young, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
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