Marion County will receive a $3,224,608 grant to replace the Buena Vista Ferry announced Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR). The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This is another example of recovery dollars filtering down to local communities and creating jobs for Oregon families.
Marion County will receive a $3,224,608 grant to replace the Buena Vista Ferry announced Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR). The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This is another example of recovery dollars filtering down to local communities and creating jobs for Oregon families.
“This project means critical jobs and economic development opportunities for our community,” said Schrader. “Recovery dollars will create construction jobs for the new ferry, ramp improvements and new signs as well as bringing more customers to local businesses in the region.”
The grant will fund the purchase of a new ferry boat, improve the existing ferry landings and upgrade terminal electrical utilities from diesel-powered generators to overhead transmission lines. These enhancements will provide more reliable and expanded passenger and vehicle ferry service over the Willamette River near Independence, Oregon.
The Buena Vista Ferry connects Buena Vista Road across the Willamette River, between Marion County and Polk County, just south of Independence. It is an important link in the Marion County Rural Transportation System Plan (RTSP) to facilitate regional movement of people, vehicles, and farm equipment. The existing ferry is over 50 years old and in need of expensive repairs and upgrades, making the purchase of a new ferry more cost-effective.
