Marina at Annapolis, Maryland
ANNAPOLIS, MD - The City of Annapolis has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the design/build/commissioning of an electric passenger ferry that will operate between City Dock and Eastport. The scope of work will include battery-powered boats designed to facilitate a crew of two and up to 15 passengers.
There will be a (virtual) pre-proposal meeting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Interested parties should visit: https://www.annapolis.gov/bids.aspx?bidID=132 to receive log-in credentials.
In early 2023, the City of Annapolis received a grant award from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of $2,875,000 in funding for an electric ferry pilot program that will operate between Eastport and City Dock. This grant funding will support the acquisition of two battery-powered electric vessels, charging equipment, and improvements to the two docks that will be landing points for the ferries.
The project is one of Mayor Buckley’s priorities from the “100 Percent Electric Mobility Plan” (O-40-21) that unanimously passed the City Council in April of 2022. Other projects include the acquisition of electric transit buses, the ten-minute trolley - an electric GEM cart that traverses Maryland Avenue/State Circle and Eastport, and ongoing replacement of fleet vehicles. In addition to these Electric Vehicle (EV) acquisitions, the City has also worked to greatly expand EV charging infrastructure in all wards of the City.
“City government can play a big role in helping people move away from fossil fuels,” said Mayor Gavin Buckley. “We can show people that these vehicles are safe and comfortable - and in the case of the e-ferry, a fun way to get from point A to point B.”
Annapolis is only one of two cities in Maryland to receive electric ferry funding through FTA grants. Baltimore City received $5 million to purchase replacement hybrid-electric ferries that operate in the Inner Harbor. In Annapolis, the ferry will operate between Eastport and City Dock in the downtown Historic District. The fixed-route service will accommodate workers, residents, and visitors and support the redevelopment of City Dock.
“We are an historic maritime City with a proud tradition for innovation,” said Deputy City Manager for Resilience and Sustainability Jacqueline Guild. “We are actively seeking out funding and projects to make City transit options more sustainable both on land and on the water.”
