Ferry Program

RIDOT is responsible for the funding of capital improvements of ferry terminal sites for ferry services in the state. Ferry Boat Discretionary (FBD) grants are available through an annual application process with the Federal Highway Administration.

Current projects include Galilee Terminal Improvements for the Block Island Ferry and Pawtucket’s Town Landing Site, which is currently under design. Other Ferry Terminal Projects include the Newport Harbor Shuttle Project which will develop an inner-harbor service to various points of interest in Newport Harbor.

Several year round and seasonal ferry services are operated in Rhode Island:

Year round service:

• Point Judith and Block Island
  (Interstate Navigation)
• Prudence Island and Bristol
  (Prudence Ferry)

Seasonal service:

• Newport & Block Island
  (Interstate Navigation)
• New London, CT & Block Island
  (Nelseco Navigation)
• Montauk, NY & Block Island
  (Viking Ferry Lines)
• Quonset & Martha’s Vineyard
  (Vineyard Fast Ferry)
• Jamestown & several points along Newport’s waterfront and islands
  (Jamestown and Newport Ferry Company)

These services provide an alternative mode of transportation or provide the sole means of transportation. Future ferry services may include some type of cross-bay ferry service, perhaps from the Warwick area to the Bristol area (roughly halfway between the I-195 bridge in Providence and the Newport and Jamestown Bridges). RIPTA, as the operator of the Providence-Newport service, is coordinating this effort.

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