Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA), with Massachusetts State Senator Thomas M. McGee (D-Lynn), state and local leaders, announced that the Federal Transit Administration has awarded a $4.5 million dollar grant to the City of Lynn. This grant, and the 20-percent match secured by state and local leaders, will provide funding to purchase a new 149-passenger vessel to support long-term ferry service from the Blossom Street Ferry Terminal in Lynn to Boston.
“Full-time ferry service in Lynn will help unleash the tremendous potential for the city’s underdeveloped waterfront,” said Moulton. “I am grateful to the local and state partners, especially Senator McGee and the Lynn EDIC, for their leadership on this effort. This is the type of successful collaboration I imagined when I worked to convene the Lynn Economic Advancement and Development Team.”
Moulton met with federal Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in October to highlight the importance of the ferry grant to Lynn and has been working with federal officials in the agency to secure these funds for the City. In an October letter of support to Massachusetts Department of Transportation Administrator Astrid Glynn, Moulton noted that ferry transportation is both a critical driver for economic development in the area, as well as an important transportation investment to support the growth resulting from that development.
“I’m happy to announce that we have secured funding for the City of Lynn to purchase a ferry boat,” said McGee. “The Lynn to Boston Ferry Service is a vision that I have been leading the charge on for many years. Partnering with the past Administration, City officials, and the Lynn State Delegation members, we have been able to build support and make significant infrastructure investments that led to an extremely successful Pilot Program the last two years. All along, we knew we needed to develop a long-term plan for year round ferry service, and having our own boat is a crucial component of that. The Ferry is a key piece to the future growth and development that is on the verge of becoming a reality in Lynn.”
The Lynn Commuter Ferry Project was incorporated as part of the City’s Waterfront Master Plan developed in 2007 to maximize planning and development. Work began in 2008 with a $750,000 grant from the Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council. This initial funding was used at the designated Blossom Street Extension site for the reconstruction of the boat ramp, improvements to the drainage, pavement of the adjacent lot and demolition of an existing building, both of which had been vacant for over 30 years.
The City’s only owned port facility received another grant in 2011 for $1.6 million, which was used to improve the deteriorating shoreline and fund construction necessary to extend the existing bulkhead to enhance the waterfront access. These improvements were key to priming the site for future passenger ferry operations.
The City of Lynn, through their Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC/Lynn) also invested $750,000, which clearly demonstrates a local commitment to the project and to providing long-term service that will benefit the entire region.
The two-year Pilot Program which began in May 2014, was funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council. Ridership numbers far exceeded projections-13,322 passengers in 2014 and 14,577 passengers in 2015.
This project will provide intermodal connections in Boston to jobs, educational opportunities, and health and human services.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is committed to dedicating technical assistance resources to the City for developing a long-term sustainability plan for ferry operations.
“We are pleased to have this federal support that will help the city of Lynn achieve its vision for its waterfront and we look forward to supporting the city with technical assistance and with this grant,” said Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack.
“I’d like to thank our state and federal partners that worked hard with the City on this application,” said Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy.
“This is excellent news for commuters from Lynn and the North Shore. This grant will allow us to purchase our own ferry and help us move toward our goal of providing year-round ferry service,” said James Cowdell, Lynn Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC) Director.
“Thanks to our state and federal elected officials, this grant ensures Lynn’s future as a ferry commuting community,” said City Council President Dan Cahill.
