Maui County's commuter ferry system will benefit from $3 million in state funding released by Gov. Linda Lingle.

The Manele Small Boat Harbor on Lana'i will get $2.5 million for a covered waiting area, lights, walkways, access roads and parking lots. The improvements are part of a larger $10.4 million project that includes a comfort station, administrative office, water mains and fire hydrants, sewage pump station, fuel dispensing facility, electrical utilities and street lights, storm water drainage system and landscaping. Construction is expected to be finished by July 2007.

On Maui, $230,000 will go to reconstruction of the existing ferry terminal building at the Ma'alaea Small Boat Harbor, renovation of the loading dock, new utilities, parking improvements and a new comfort station. The job is part of a larger $15 million project, with design work to begin next month.

Another $230,000 is going to the Lahaina Harbor to build a new comfort station, paved walkways and disabled parking stalls, landscaping and utilities, with an additional $35,000 in planning funds for a new ferry pier with a covered waiting area, a floating platform with a movable gangway and maintenance and new dredging of the berthing area and entrance channel.