Coastal Alaska depends on ferries and reliable marine transportation. Ferry technology has advanced significantly since the creation of the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). Southeast Conference and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) have partnered to bring an updated transportation system to AMHS, focused on reliability and improved mobility access for Alaskans to get to where they need to go. This project is ongoing and already has ample opportunities for public engagement planned; these project updates, comment periods, and community engagement events planned throughout the process will help ensure the new AMHS system serves Alaskan’s needs.
With over $600 million awarded from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this funding for the project will start with the design and construction of three ferries, and make needed improvements to existing terminals and docks used by AMHS. These improvements will also move AMHS toward energy independence, providing funding for the construction of battery energy storage systems (BESS), and ensuring that the fleet and facilities are ready for everything that Alaskan weather has to throw at AMHS.
- We seek to create a modern and sustainable AMHS that can operate at lower costs and minimizes environmental impacts of the fleet.
- Improving the fleet means improving economic stability for coastal communities.
- By moving our energy production to local sources and adding BESS, AMHS will be ready to make swift strides toward energy independence
- New vessels help reassure that ferries are able to run their routes efficiently, reliably, and above all safely.
- These improvements will help move Alaska toward building healthy communities that can access resources easily via AMHS.
- The project has kicked off as of early 2025, we are hopeful to have have our vessels servicing communities with new shoreside infrastructure completed by the end of 2028.
- Funds are already allocated to the project from the current DOT&PF budget, but over 80% of the funding comes from the Federal Transit Administration.
- Plans are already being made to continue to modernize the AMHS fleet and expand service throughout coastal Alaska.
