WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Maine Department of Transportation will receive $2.4 million in federal funding to make ferry service improvements in Portland and Frenchboro, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced today.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will provide $1.2 million to the Casco Bay Island Transit District in Portland to design and build a new passenger ferry, the Wabanaki. It will replace the Island Romance, a ferry built in 1973 that carries 299 passengers.

The Maine State Ferry Service also will receive $1.2 million to design and build a new ferry berthing system, transfer bridge, fender system and support the pier at the Frenchboro Ferry.

Collins is the ranking Member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee.