Buttigieg's Alaska Visit: Ferries, Funding, and Extreme Conditions

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg concluded his visit to Alaska by emphasizing the importance of the state's ferry system. The Biden administration's infrastructure law has allocated over $286 million in federal funding to the Alaska Marine Highway System, including funds for new ferry terminals and ships. This marks a significant policy change as the federal government will now subsidize ferry operations in Alaska. Supporters of the ferry system believe this funding will help salvage and modernize the system, which has been struggling due to budget cuts. However, challenges such as hiring new workers and addressing pay and benefits issues still remain.