Public transit agencies to receive state grants for critical infrastructure improvements

Fast facts:

• A total of $25 million was awarded to two transit agencies under the Intermodal Capital Investment Grant program.
• EUPTA will receive $15 million for construction of a new ferryboat to serve Drummond Island.
• HTC will receive $10 million toward a new transit facility to replace their existing structure.

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO) have announced a $25 million award to Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) and the Huron Transit Corp., Inc. (HTC)/Huron County Board of Commissioners for important capital improvement projects under the state Intermodal Capital Investment Grant program.

"These capital investment grants will provide critical funding to our public transit agencies to improve services." said State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich, P.E. "It will help enhance and expand the state's multimodal passenger transportation systems."  

EUPTA will receive $15 million for construction of a new ferryboat to serve Drummond Island. This ferry will accommodate the increased recreational tourism and new housing construction, which has increased not only the number of vehicles needing to be transported to the island but also the size of those vehicles. This increased demand from large vehicles has resulted in people/vehicles waiting in line for hours to access the current ferry. An additional ferry will improve access to and from the island for residents and visitors.

HTC will receive $10 million toward a new transit facility to replace their existing structure that is deteriorating and can no longer accommodate the current transit bus fleet. The total project is estimated to cost $32 million, including land purchase and construction. Currently, the transit agency must rent storage space, which increases their operational budget.

"This $25 million in grants for the EUPTA and HTC will spur tourism, which will bring in more customers for local businesses, in turn creating job opportunities, improving the local economy and increasing quality of life," said Zach Kolodin, Michigan’s chief infrastructure officer and director of the MIO. "By building an additional ferry for Drummond Island and providing a new transit facility for Huron County, we are addressing immediate infrastructure needs while laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and modernization. Together, with our local and federal partners, we are building a Michigan where every community has the opportunity to prosper."

Approved by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in July 2023 for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 state budget, the Intermodal Capital Investment Grant program provides one-time investments for impactful passenger rail, transit, and marine capital projects and equipment. Where possible, these grants help leverage federal infrastructure funding.