Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington Senator Patty Murray says the state will get nearly $8 million more in federal stimulus money for the state ferry system.

That came one day after the U.S. Transportation Department snubbed Washington when it announced stimulus grants for ferry systems nationwide. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Washington's ferry system is the largest in the country. But the state only received a single grant for $750,000.

Oregon got more money than Washington – more than $3 million for the Buena Vista Ferry. It crosses the Willamette River in Marion County and only runs half the year.

Murray spokeswoman Alex Glass says the Senator had a frank conversation with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Alex Glass: “He told her that he would do an expedited review of how this happened and would get back to her about what they were going to do about it and she said I want to know exactly how these decisions were made and how you are going to fix it.”

Now the U.S. Transportation Department has found an additional $7.6 million for Washington ferries.

That money will help pay for three projects including a Seattle to Bremerton fast-ferry and a new ferry terminal at Anacortes.