“With respect to obtaining special project funding under the surface transportation authorization, I am concerned that the commonwealth has not made use of the $12 million that was appropriated in the last transportation legislation. That the commonwealth has failed to use this grant does not bode well for future appropriations of transportation monies,” Sablan told Sen. Paul A. Manglona, R-Rota, in a letter dated May 8.
Manglona is asking Sablan to convince federal authorities to explore the possibility of establishing an interisland ferry service between Rota, Guam and Saipan to help commuters travel faster and cheaper within the territories.
Sablan is receptive to the idea but asked Manglona to research more on the subject before he brings the matter to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Sablan wants to know the projected number of passengers that would be served in the proposed interisland ferry and if the service would also include automobiles and freights.
He also wants to know if the service’s costs of maintenance and operations will pay for itself or be subsidized by the commonwealth government.
Similarly, he wants to know if the service could be established with a partnership with Guam if its route is included.
In the same letter, Sablan told Manglona his office already submitted proposals for road projects in the CNMI.
“If these projects are funded under the surface transportation legislation annual Federal Highway Administration grants that would have been used will be freed up. These monies could then be directed to a study to determine the feasibility of establishing, maintaining and operating an interisland ferry service,” said Sablan.
“And, if that study indicates it would be feasible and affordable, then annual Federal Highway grants could also be used to establish a ferry. Of course, all of this would be at the discretion of the commonwealth government,” he added.
