Quincy, in Partnership with the MBTA, Receives $4.2 Million On Behalf of FTA to Upgrade Squantum Point Park Ferry Pier

The City of Quincy, with the support of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), is receiving a $4.2 federal million grant on behalf of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to modernize the Squantum Point Park Ferry Pier.

The MBTA intends to use this funding to modernize the Squantum Point Park Ferry Pier — a facility over 30 years old — with a new pier, float, and ramp system. The MBTA began operating ferry service between Winthrop and Quincy in July 2023, with steady ridership increases over time, including a 135% increase during summer 2024 compared to its 2023 summer ridership.

The MBTA is also seeking to bolster regional maritime transportation by connecting Quincy, Milton, Weymouth, Braintree, and other communities to downtown Boston.

The Squantum Point Park Ferry Terminal plays a key role in supporting MBTA Ferry Service, which averages 5,900 weekday trips and 1.5 million trips annually (CY 2023). The terminal provides access to downtown Boston's job opportunities and recreational attractions, links with the central MBTA transit network, and serves as a gateway to the region's tourism center.

Mayor Koch and General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng accepted the award from the FTA’s Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool on behalf of Quincy and the MBTA, Monday September 16, at the Senesco shipyard in Rhode Island. The MBTA’s grant is part of the $300 million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by the Biden-Harris Administration aimed to expand and modernize the nation's ferry systems.

“The MBTA is proud to operate ferry service as part of our transportation offerings. I have tremendous appreciation for FTA Administrator Vanterpool and Regional Administrator Butler as federal grants such as this allows us to improve the quality of life for all that live, work and play here in Massachusetts. Quincy Mayor Koch has been a strong advocate and partner as we both strive to ensure that water transportation is enhanced for all that rely on it,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “We’re looking forward to continuing to provide safe, reliable water transportation as an option as we work to increase transportation access for the communities we serve well into the future.”

“We are grateful to the Federal Transit Agency for recognizing the importance of Water Transportation in Boston Harbor. This pier will allow for a robust Ferry Service to serve the people of Quincy and greater Boston,” said Quincy Mayor Koch.

This project offers a unique chance to utilize state-owned assets to improve transportation options in the Quincy-Boston Harbor area and foster greater collaboration between the MBTA and the City of Quincy. By enhancing transportation choices, we can advance the MBTA's accessibility objectives and offer better access to our services. This initiative will specifically benefit elderly riders and individuals with disabilities by enhancing the accessibility and overall experience of MBTA ferry services.