Baltimore’s Harbor Connector free ferry service is getting an investment of nearly $11 million in federal funding to add new hybrid vessels to the city’s fleet.
U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Rep. Kweisi Mfume, all Democrats representing Maryland in Congress, on Wednesday announced $10,935,000 in federal funding for the Harbor Connector.
“The Harbor Connector efficiently connects Baltimoreans to where they need to be — whether for school, work, or recreation — and keeps our entire community connected. I am so proud to have worked with Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Mfume to secure over $10 million to ensure more Baltimoreans can travel safely, while helping to achieve our environmental goals,” said Senator Alsobrooks.
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation will be able to use the money to swap out the fleet’s three diesel ferries with new hybrid ferries and buy a fourth hybrid ferry.
Riders with wheelchairs and mobility devices will be able to more easily access the boats as the new ferries will have deck heights matching the landings’ freeboard.
“The Harbor Connector is an invaluable part of Baltimore’s transportation network, and I’m proud to have played a part in bringing these funds home to modernize the ferry fleet and ensure that the Connector is accessible to all Marylanders,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “The Harbor Connector allows residents of Baltimore’s waterfront communities to get where they need to go more easily, and now, they will be able to do so on modern, efficient, and environmentally conscious hybrid ferries. Team Maryland will never, ever stop working to bring resources like these back home to the communities that need them.”
The Harbor Connector transports riders across the harbor around waterfront neighborhoods like Locust Point, Canton, and Fells Point. The service is provided at no cost to passengers.
Nearly 350,000 passengers used the Harbor Connector in Fiscal Year 2026, marking the service’s highest ridership since 2017.
“The Harbor Connector is a key part of our transportation network, especially for our waterfront neighborhoods,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott said. “As we continue to see record ridership, this award will help us make the fleet even more efficient, sustainable, and accessible for all of our residents and visitors. I want to thank the best federal delegation in the country for their work to secure this funding, and I look forward to seeing the new hybrid ferries in action.”
The service helps reduce single-occupancy vehicle travel by about 500,000 miles each year and helps Baltimore advance its sustainability and congestion-reduction goals.
The nearly $11-million investment comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program.
That program was created and funded at $250 million over five years through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, legislation that Van Hollen and Mfume helped pass in 2021.
“The Harbor Connector brings thousands of riders a year to the businesses and activities around the Baltimore Harbor. We fought to pass the infrastructure modernization law to upgrade our transportation, and this investment is an example of those federal dollars at work. This upgrade will bring more sustainable and accessible transportation options to the city and provide more opportunities for Baltimore residents and visitors to enjoy all it has to offer,” Van Hollen said.
