Steamship Authority Awarded Federal Grant For Woods Hole Project

WOODS HOLE, MA — The Steamship Authority has received a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the ferry service announced last week. The money will go toward its new ferry terminal in Woods Hole.

"We are extremely grateful to the U.S. Department of Transportation for this award," Steamship Authority General Manager Robert B. Davis said in a statement. "As one of the only public ferry systems in the country to totally support its operations and capital costs through fare box collections, any financial assistance we can receive through our partners at the federal government helps us keep the cost of service as low as possible for our traveling public, including the island residents for whom we are proud to serve as a lifeline."

The project includes a redesign and rebuild of the Authority's terminal property. This spring, construction on the northernmost slip – where a ferry docks – was completed, and this fall, work on the middle slip will begin. The waterfront part of the project is expected to cost about $55 million, while the terminal building is projected to cost $12.5 million. The cost estimate will be determined when the design is finalized, the service said.

The design of the building has fallen under scrutiny from area residents, who expressed concern over the harbor view.

"The Steamship Authority provides a vital link between the Cape Cod and the rest of mainland and the island communities of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard," MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack said. "This grant will help the Authority to continue to better fulfill its charter mission for decades to come."