ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Today, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley announced that the Balboa Island Ferry has received a preliminary $7.9 million grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that will be used to transition the ferry to zero-emission operation. The Balboa Island Ferry is critical transportation infrastructure that provides pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers with affordable and accessible transportation to and from Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California. However, the Balboa Island Ferry was at risk of closure due to state law that requires all short-run ferries in California to transition to zero-emission operation by December 31, 2025.
“After meeting with the Beek Family, the longtime owners and operators of the Balboa Island Ferry, my office coordinated a bipartisan working group to Save the Balboa Island Ferry. Our working group pooled together resources and identified grant opportunities for the Ferry to ensure this critical infrastructure remained functional after 2025. In October 2023, I wrote a letter to CARB requesting funding and an extension to comply with the December 31, 2025 deadline. I’m grateful to play a role in securing this $7.9 million preliminary grant award from the California Air Resources Board and South Coast Air Quality Management District to Save the Balboa Island Ferry,” said Supervisor Foley. “The Ferry reduces vehicle miles traveled by 4.2 million annually, and this grant funding will allow the Ferry to continue providing necessary, and greener, services for our residents and tourists for many years into the future.”
