Page 18: of Marine News Magazine (January 2022)

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Feature

Passenger Vessels

WSF

It’s a Winding Path Back to ‘Normal’

By Barry Parker he year just ended, 2021, might be described Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) signed into as being about “trying to get back to normal”, law in mid-November, has the potential to expand the across the entire transportation spectrum, two de? nition of “normal”. Included in the bill is $1 billion for years into the pandemic. During this time, the new ferry routes that would serve rural areas; $337 million

T decarbonization and electri? cation waves have for new ferries and shoreside terminals; and $250 million swept across maritime passenger transport. The passen- for The Green Ferries Act, a pilot project for low-carbon ger side of the business is dependent on multiple funding emission fuel (most likely electric) ferries- with multiple sources; increasingly, this money will be driven by environ- states positioned to see federal allocations. mental and social considerations. Infrastructure support has crossed across the aisle- Alas-

The long-awaited funding of “infrastructure”-related ka’s Representative Don Young voted “yes”, joining just 12 projects, notably the $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure other Republicans in supporting the just passed legislation. 18 | MN January 2022