BELLINGHAM, WA – Several aging ferries, including the Chelan on the Anacortes to San Juan Islands route, are getting some upgrades.

US Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell announced Wednesday $4.8 million in federal funding to refurbish the passenger areas of six Washington state ferries.

The project will allow for more space between passengers in high-occupancy areas and make cleaning easier for staff.

Each of the six ferries have been out of operation for an average of three months per year since 2019.

They are all at least forty years old and the upgrades are expected to extend their lifespan by up to a decade.

The funds come from the Federal Transit Administration’s Ferry Programs Grant, with nearly $1 million of additional funding from WSDOT.