$7.9 million grant secured to preserve Balboa Island ferry

A grant worth $7.9 million was secured in the effort to preserve the Balboa Island ferry, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley announced Wednesday. 

The grant from the California Air Resources Board will help keep the ferry afloat as it transports pedestrians, cyclists and drivers to and from Balboa Island in Newport Beach. 

"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 in a statement. "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."

Despite the grant, there's still a lot more work to be done, said the ferry's operator Seymour Beek. His family has operated the ferries since the early 1900s. 

"They made a ruling that by the end of 2025 all short run ferries in California ... have to be zero emission, and it's a tall order."

While the ferries are fun and a unique experience for families getting to and from the island, Foley says they're critical to local transportation. 

She says that even before the conversion, the three ferries were already a clean operation "in terms of 4.2 million miles traveled — saved."

The ferry was at risk of closure due to state law that requires all California ferries to transition to zero-emission operations by Dec. 31, 2025.