PORTLAND — Improvement work at the Casco Bay Lines terminal got a boost with $2.5 million in federal funding.
According to Rep. Chellie Pingree’s office, the Federal Transit Administration’s Passenger Ferry Grant Program awarded the project $2,560,000 for the second phase of improvement work.
The first phase, which began in September, expanded the terminal’s waiting area and added large windows facing the harbor. The second phase will improve access to and from vessels and enhance safety and security.
“This is great news for Casco Bay Lines and the thousands of people who use these ferries every year to commute back and forth or experience the island communities that make Maine unique,” Pingree said. “It’s been exciting to see the updates and improvements taking place at the ferry terminal over the last few months—they will create a much more enjoyable and convenient experience for passengers while streamlining operations. This grant will allow Casco Bay Lines to build on those improvements even further,” she said.
“As someone who has lived on an offshore island for over 40 years, I can attest to how critical ferry lines are to the sustainability of these year-round communities,” said Pingree. “As hubs for the ferries, terminals play a key role in making sure the service is safe, reliable and convenient. I’m so glad Casco Bay Lines is getting some federal assistance to meet these critical needs.”