Congressman Robert Garcia Announces $545,000 Federal Grant to Upgrade Long Beach Water Taxi Fleet

LONG BEACH, CA - Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) announced a $544,904 federal grant award from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to Long Beach Transit to upgrade the water taxi fleet that connects Downtown Long Beach with Alamitos Bay. The funding will replace aging passenger ferry engines with new engines to deliver cleaner, faster, and more reliable service for riders, while also cutting down on maintenance costs.

"Long Beach's water taxi is one of the most iconic and unique ways to get around our city, and this investment is going to make it even better," said Congressman Robert Garcia. "New engines mean safer rides, less downtime, and fewer emissions. This is exactly the kind of smart investment that makes Long Beach a great place to live, work, and visit."

"Investments like this make a real difference in the everyday lives of Long Beach residents. Upgrading Long Beach Transit's water taxi fleet will provide a more reliable, accessible connection between Downtown and Alamitos Bay while strengthening a unique transportation option that connects residents, visitors and businesses across our waterfront," said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. "I'm grateful to Congressman Garcia and the Department of Transportation for investing in Long Beach and helping us build a cleaner, more connected and vibrant city."

"Long Beach Transit is grateful for this Federal award from the FY 2026 Passenger Ferry Grant Program," said President and CEO of Long Beach Transit Kenneth A. McDonald. "As the only California transit agency receiving an award through this program, we are especially proud to bring this federal investment to the City of Long Beach. This funding will help us modernize our harbor vessel fleet and continue providing safe, reliable ferry transportation that connects our customers, residents, and visitors to Long Beach's waterfront destinations."

Congressman Garcia has always fought to improve our community's transportation infrastructure. In July 2026, Congressman Garcia announced the DOT awarded over $27 million in federal funding for Long Beach Airport for taxiway reconstruction. In August 2025, Congressman Garcia announced that the DOT awarded over $24 million in federal funding for Long Beach Airport to expand key parts of the terminal and improve areas to make it easier and more comfortable for passengers to get through the airport. In 2024, Congressman Garcia ledthe Los Angeles County delegation to advocate for funding for Metro's Southeast Gateway Line Project. Congressman Garcia also helped secure over $283 million in federal grant money for the completion of the North Rail Yard Expansion and the South Rail Yard Expansion at the Port of Long Beach, which is estimated to create over 13,000 jobs nationwide. Congressman Garcia led efforts to secure funding for Los Angeles and Long Beach transit systems in preparation for the 2028 Olympics. As Mayor of the City of Long Beach, his signature ballot initiative, Measure A, launched the largest infrastructure repair program in a generation, promoting good-paying union jobs.

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