A ferry boat project has received $475,000 in grant money from the Federal Highway Administration.

The Hillsborough County Waterborne Transportation Feasibility Study and Demonstration Project, which is sponsored by Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, and Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, aims to assess the feasibility of design and construction of ferry boats and terminal facilities linking the waterfronts of downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg.

The funding is part of more than $42 million in grants from the FHA’s Ferry Boat program. This includes 35 grants to build and improve ferry docks and facilities in 15 states and Puerto Rico.

Congress authorized the Ferry Boat Program to fund projects in areas with high passenger demand and limited means of transportation. Program funds can be applied to capital improvements for existing ferry operations to increase the number of riders, relieve congestion or address environmental or operational concerns, a release said.

Other than the Hillsborough project, the only other such grant in Florida was $712,500 toward the rehabilitation of the Mayport Ferry and Dock Ramp in Jacksonville.

Article Courtesy Of: