Posted on 10/22/2010 2:01:02 AM PDT by prisoner6
10/22 - Ludington, Mich. - A federal transportation grant application by the city of Ludington to convert the S.S. Badger cross-lake ferry from coal to diesel power was unsuccessful, officials announced Wednesday.
Ludington’s $14 million request for special federal stimulus money for new engines for the Lake Michigan Carferry operation was not among the 42 projects funded nationwide. The city’s request to provide new diesel engines for the historic coal-powered steamship was among nearly 1,000 grant applications totaling $19 billion.
The U.S. Department of Transportation had only $600 million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery funds. The only Michigan project among the 42 funded was for a major bridge reconstruction in Ann Arbor, which received $13.9 million.
Ludington sought the federal funds to assist Lake Michigan Carferry in solving its coal ash issue with the Badger. The Badger has been dumping its coal ash in Lake Michigan for more than 50 years. Environmental regulators traditionally allowed the practice on the historic passenger-and-vehicle ferry that operates between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wis.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency permit to discharge the coal ash expires at the end of the 2012 sailing season. Lake Michigan Carferry officials will need to either find another propulsion system for the Badger or construct a collection system on the ferry so the coal ash can be properly disposed of in a landfill.
“Repowering the vessel was the best option for meeting the EPA’s environmental mandate,” said Lake Michigan Carferry spokeswoman Lynda Matson, in a prepared statement. “We will now pursue other options to ensure the continuation of carferry services.”
Ludington City Manager John Shay said city officials were “disappointed” in not being funded.
“We felt this was important enough to try for the grant,” Shay said. “The city will continue to do what we can to support the carferry.”
The city of Ludington’s support for repowering the Badger through its federal grant application prompted strong opposition from the Lake Express high-speed ferry system operating between Muskegon and Milwaukee. The company, along with leaders in Muskegon and Milwaukee, objected to using federal tax dollars to support a private, for-profit business, causing unfair competition.
Lake Michigan Carferry and its supporters in Ludington and Manitowoc argued that the community’s interest is having the Badger successfully operating. Cross-lake ferries are Ludington’s historic symbol and a major economic contributor to the city’s summer tourism industry.
Some have speculated that without the federal transportation grant, the Badger’s operations might end. Shay dismissed such speculation in an August interview with The Chronicle, saying the company intends to be in business for the next 50 years.
“We have every indication from the company that they will explore other options,” Shay said. “They will do everything humanly possible to stay in business.”
The Ann Arbor bridge project is a reconstruction of Stadium Drive over State Street — a key transportation link for the University of Michigan and its adjacent football stadium.
Atlanta received the largest grant — $47.7 million for a streetcar project. The $600 million in funds were spread to all types of transportation improvements, including maritime uses. The Port of Miami received $22.7 million for rail access, the Port of Los Angeles $16 million for a railyard and the Port of Providence, R.I., $10.5 million for electric cranes.
Who would have thunk that the most liberal area in Michigan would get stimulus money? What a shocker.
About the Badger....I did not know it was coal powered. We took a trip across a few years ago and it was pretty neat. We know several people who have used both the Muskegon ferry, the high speed one, and the Badger. The high speed one is horrible to take when the waves are kicked up. The Badger does better.
That being said I'm not sure that federal dollars should be used, but if they go out of business it's partially going to the fedgovs fault for the stupid regulations they imposed so I can see the point of applying.
I guess the bottom line is that Ludington wasn't liberal enough....I believe it's part of the district that my congressman, Hoekstra, represents.
The Great Lakes had always been a fascination for me, but I have yet to get to Superior.
FWIW here is a nice website on GL traffic. boatnerd.com
The "vessel passage" pages are especially cool. If you keep clicking the maps you end up at a page that shows locations and weather reports.
I use the port reports and news channels to track tonnage of ore and grain which can be an indicator of the economy.
How about converting to wind power?
This federal grant culture has severely distorted the US economy.
Probably coal powered because coal was plentifula round the GL's.
She is hand fired too!!?? No automatic stoker. Man, living in the back time.
I was just noticing the same thing. There *might* still be a manually stoked paddlewheel steamer somewhere on the Mississippi (the steam engines, boilers and fireboxes tended to be salvaged from older riverboats and re-used). Other than that, I can’t think of any still operating.
We took the Badger a couple of years ago when we went from Wi to Mackinaw Island. It was okay, nothing special. Mackinaw was a hoot. I remember watching a Fed Ex guy on the back of a horse drawn wagon with his packages drinking a beer...
![](http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:R8sR7daexSBGmM:www.ted-kyte.com/3D/Pictures/Spark%2520Plug.jpg")
Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....
If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST just FReepmail me.....
This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....
The island name ends with a "c." As in Mackinac Island. The city to the south, on the tip of the Lower Peninsula is spelled with a "w" (Mackinaw City).
When I was a child we spent three days on the island staying in the Governor's Mansion. My Dad was an architect for the State and some state employees were allowed to rent it, as well as the Lieutenant Governor's Mansion. They were really great homes and the island was fun.
The two forts, Fort Mackinac on the island and Fort Michilimacinac on the mainland are great places to explore.
A couple of years later the State sold the two mansions.
Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....
If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST just FReepmail me.....
This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....
ping! including music from Manitowac’s favorite local band!
I can’t believe I spelled Manitowoc wrong...
The funny thing is that fly ash cement is EPA approved for sealing old water wells.
I agree. We need to stop all grants!
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