31 January 2023 Carol Britton Meyer
A $6.6 million Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) grant awarded to MBTA for the capital improvement of Hingham Shipyards’ Hingham Ferry Dock will modernize the dock, improving safety and accessibility while enhancing the experience. Restore the facility to good condition. Increase commuter numbers and improve the reliability and resilience of this popular mode of transport.
“This is a significant amount of money to invest in ferry docks, especially when Rep. Joan Mesquino and I were on the phone with MBTA a few years ago about potentially reducing or eliminating ferry service. [from the Shipyard]’, Senator Patrick O’Connor told Hingham Anchor. “This grant shows how far we’ve come.”
The senator further said the ferry served more than 500,000 passengers a year before the COVID-19 pandemic and that “rider numbers are starting to pick up again.”
This construction and refurbishment project will replace the existing dock with a permanent dock that is fully accessible and has a covered walkway and canopy. The lighting, safety and security systems have all been upgraded and generators have been installed to provide full backup power to the docks and Hingham Intermodal Center in the event of a power outage.
Design work for the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, and construction is expected to begin in 2024.
“This will be a cutting-edge project that will improve the experience of ferry commuters for work and pleasure. Using federal dollars to make these repairs is a great opportunity.” O’Connor said. “This Hingham Dock investment will benefit all South Shore commuters who use this service.”
The funding is provided as part of the FTA’s Fiscal Year 2022 Passenger Ferry Grant Program. The program works to strengthen and revitalize public ferry systems in urbanized areas of the country.
“Rep. Meschino and I have worked with the Baker Polito and Healy Driscoll administrations to ensure that Hingham Ferry Dock improvements are a priority.
The FTA has provided more than $380 million in competitive funding for ferry projects through three discretionary grant programs. MBTA wins the nation’s largest award for its passenger ferry subsidy program.
MBTA and its partners will collectively contribute approximately $116 million to fund MBTA’s capital needs, including an unprecedented $116 million award from the 2022 FTA to support the purchase of battery-electric buses. Received over a dozen competitive grants worth $250 million. This will significantly boost T’s aggressive transition towards fully zero-emission vehicles of more than 1,100 buses by 2040,” he said, an MBTA official said.
MBTA Interim General Manager Jeffrey Goneville said: “This funding is the result of MBTA’s aggressive strategy for federal discretionary funding and will also serve as a key component of a broader effort to ensure the system remains a safety priority. We appreciate the support of the Congressional delegation, including Meschino’s efforts, and the countless individuals who have worked with us to move the project forward.
“The project will not only help increase the ferry service’s capacity, but also make it more resilient to adverse weather and climate change,” MBTA officials said.
As work progresses, commuters will be able to see first-hand “in a transparent way how these resources can be used to improve the experience for everyone involved,” O’Connor said. increase. “We are very pleased that this project is moving forward. It is a great start to the new year and we look forward to bringing state and federal funding to the South Shore in the future.”
