A Fact About Ferries

Last week the Senator sent out a rare email titled "Delivering for Alaska’s Ferries". In it he takes credit for “helping craft legislation”, specifically the 2015 FAST Act ( under the Obama Admin) and the 2021 Infrastructure Act (under the Biden admin) in which about 1 billion dollars was appropriated for the ferries. When Senator Sullivan was first elected to Congress in 2014, Petersburg had 12 ferries a week, including service to Prince Rupert, BC. Today, we have 2 per week, and no service to Rupert. Petersburg has experienced an approximately a 74% reduction in Alaska Marine Highway port departures between 2014 and 2024, falling from 365 departures to just 95. This winter’s schedule shows no improvement. The newest replacement ferry (for the Tustemena) is not due on line until 2029, at best. The Senator alone is not responsible for the near collapse of our main transportation system in SE Alaska but if leaders are going to take the credit for their work, they should also shoulder the blame.

https://www.wrangellsentinel.com/stories/not-all-federal-money-for-ferries-is-spent-wisely,73118