Grant helps MetroLINK buy electric ferry for Channel Cat

A new grant from the U.S. Department’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will bring a new electric ferry for the Channel Cat.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced grants worth almost $300 million from the FTA Ferry Grant Program 2024 , part of President Biden’s Bi partisan Infrastructure Law to expand and modernize ferry systems across the nation. Every year, 56 million trips are made on ferries in communities across the country, moving people and goods, boosting local economies, helping lower costs for families and providing connections for Americans who, in some cases, have no other means of travel.

The Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK) will receive $8 million to buy a new a battery-electric ferry for the Channel Cat, charging equipment to support a zero- emission vessel along the Mississippi riverfront and to make land-based improvements. The project will improve service and reliability as the ferry moves across the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa and improve air quality.

“Ferries serve Americans who depend heavily on this form of transit because of where they live—and the Biden-Harris Administration is making sure people have access to more reliable, cleaner ferry service,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “These funds will make it easier for Americans to move about their day while also protecting the rivers and waterways they depend on economically.”

The FTA awarded grants to 18 projects in 14 states, including installing wireless connectivity on ferries and replacing old vessels with electric ships that reduce greenhouse gas pollution and improve air quality. The program invests in improving ferry service in urban and rural communities by providing federal support to buy modern, “greener” ferry boats and upgrading equipment to support high-quality, low-emission ferry service.

Projects were selected for funding based on criteria in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The FTA received 43 eligible project proposals totaling $638.7 million in requests.

MetroLINK is the only Midwest recipient of the grant.

“It’s definitely the first of its kind in the area,” said Jennifer Hirsch, the manager of administration for MetroLINK. “When you look at the list of grant awards, MetroLINK is the only one in the middle of the country who was awarded funds for this type of project. The other projects are located in Alaska, or maybe on the east or west coast, so again we’re very grateful and fortunate and excited about this opportunity.”

MetroLINK has been working to make their transportation better for the environment, starting with their first electric buses in 2018.

“It’s just continuing to invest in battery electric technology as we have with our buses,” said Hirsch. “Now moving on to our ferry boats, we are also partnering with our communities here locally, and putting in electric vehicle chargers in our downtowns. So we are all about electrifying our community, whether it’s just our vehicles and our boats, but also expanding that, out to other citizens here in our community.”

This won’t be the last eco-friendly addition to MetroLINK.

“As additional funds become available, we’ll continue to evaluate that technology and add to our fleet, whether it be the battery electric buses or the compressed natural gas,” said Hirsch. “So with whichever technology we do use, it will be a hundred percent eco friendly.”

The current Channel Cat water taxis will run until the end of the month .

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