The Washington State Department of Transportation has won a national award for building three ferries under budget.

The department won the “Under Budget, Large Project” category. Washington State Ferries added three, 64-car vessels on time and at a decreased cost than was originally budgeted. The new ferries were finished in 42 months — quick by shipbuilding industry standards — and almost $7 million under budget. The Chetzemoka, Salish and Kennewick were constructed, and two of them sail between Port Townsend and Coupeville.

By winning the category, WSDOT was entered into a competition for a national award that comes with $10,000 worth of prizes. This is the fifth time the transportation department won an award in the America’s Transportation Awards competition, sponsored by the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials.