(Washington, DC) -- Congressman Kweisi Mfume and Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks have announced nearly $11 million in federal funding to upgrade Baltimore's Harbor Connector.
The fare-free ferry service transports riders across the harbor and around waterfront neighborhoods like Locust Point, Canton and Fells Point.
“The Harbor Connector allows residents of Baltimore’s waterfront communities to get where they need to go more easily, and now, they will be able to do so on modern, efficient, and environmentally conscious hybrid ferries. Team Maryland will never, ever stop working to bring resources like these back home to the communities that need them," said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.
The funds will allow the city's Department of Transportation to replace the fleet's three diesel ferries with hybrid vessels and support the purchase of a fourth hybrid vessel.
As we continue to see record ridership, this award will help us make the fleet even more efficient, sustainable, and accessible for all of our residents and visitors. I want to thank the best federal delegation in the country for their work to secure this funding, and I look forward to seeing the new hybrid ferries in action," said Mayor Brandon Scott.
The new ferries will have decks that match the landings' freeboard, so riders with wheelchairs and mobility devices can access the boats more easily.
24/7 News Source contributed to this report.
