Ferry Service for Rural Communities

Objective

The Passenger Ferry Grant Program for Rural Communities provides funding for passenger ferries through a competitive process to improve access and mobility in rural or geographically isolated communities that rely on ferry service due to limited road or transit infrastructure. The goals of the program is to improve reliable and safe ferry service in rural areas, fund vessel purchases, terminal construction, and other capital improvements and support tribal governments, local transit agencies, and state/local entities serving rural ferry routes. This Assistance Listing 20.539 created in August 2025 was included in the previous ALN 20.532, please refer to former ALN 20.532 for FY24 and FY25 financial obligations. The new Assistance Listing 20.539will be utilized by DOT at the start of FY 2026.

Who Can Apply

• U.S. State Government (including the District of Columbia)
• State

Eligible Recipients are States

Who Benefits

• U.S. State Government (including the District of Columbia)
• State

This program benefits states and its rural subrecipients with ferry service that meets the distance and operating schedule requirements described under Assistance Listing Description

Assistance Types

• Grant

Program Contact

ftaferryprograms@dot.gov
2023662053