The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Long Beach Transit a $544,904 federal grant to upgrade its water taxi fleet connecting downtown Long Beach and Alamitos Bay, Rep. Robert Garcia announced Monday.
The funding will replace aging passenger ferry engines with new ones designed to provide cleaner, faster, and more reliable service for riders while reducing maintenance costs, according to Garcia’s office.
The Long Beach Transit AquaLink water taxi as seen in an undated photo from the Office of Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn.
“Investments like this make a real difference in the everyday lives of Long Beach residents. Upgrading Long Beach Transit’s water taxi fleet will provide a more reliable, accessible connection between downtown and Alamitos Bay while strengthening a unique transportation option that connects residents, visitors and businesses across our waterfront,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement.
Rep. Garcia has led efforts to secure federal funding for Los Angeles and Long Beach transit systems ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
The grant is part of a broader $665 million investment to modernize ferry infrastructure in communities across the nation.
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