FY 2024 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program

Background
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $49 million in competitive grants under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program (ELEF). ELEF makes funding available competitively to assist in the financing of capital projects for 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.

Grant Details
The IRCE Project involves expanding the existing IRC to provide improved rail service to the Port’s marine terminals. The IRCE Project includes construction of a six-track rail embankment adjacent to the current two-track rail corridor; lengthening of the existing two tracks by 1,000 feet for a total of 8,500 feet; and constructing two new 8,500-foot rail tracks. Construction includes new stormwater conveyance and treatment facilities, track operation systems, lighting, utility improvements, and rail crew support facilities. Federal funding awarded to the Port for the IRCE Project includes a DOT grant under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program and congressionally directed Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program funds. The Port has also been awarded a Federal Highway Administration grant under the National Highway Freight Program (NHFP). The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is administering the RAISE and NHFP grants, which will be used to fund engineering design and construction of the IRCE Project. FRA is administering the CRISI grant, which will be used for property acquisition to support the IRCE Project. In 2023, the Port, in coordination with MARAD, prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the IRCE Project to evaluate potential impacts to the human and natural environment, in accordance with NEPA. MARAD was the lead Federal agency for the oversight of the NEPA process. FRA was a cooperating agency in the development of the EA. MARAD issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Project’s EA on October 31, 2023. FRA adopted MARAD’s EA and approved its own FONSI for the Project on November 3, 2023.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible Applicants: Passenger Ferry Program: designated and direct recipients of section 5307 funding and public entities engaged in providing public transportation passenger ferry service in urban areas that are eligible to be direct recipients.
Low-No Ferry Program: any eligible recipient of section 5307 or section 5311 funding.
Rural Ferry Program: States and U.S. territories in which eligible service is operated.

Period of Performance
Applications due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time June 17, 2024.

Grant Value
Total Grant Value: $49 million.