alot of talk has been made about light rail in tampa but a cheaper way of improving some congestion would be to have a ferry service that connects downtown tampa and downtown st pete. I picture it going from channelside where the Yacht Starship docks to the Pier in St Pete. I can't believe that they don't have this already. it just seems like such a logical thing to do. they have ferry commuter service in Boston,NY,etc. Why not here? there are alot of people who travel between St pete and tampa on a daily basis. Tampa's greatest asset is being on the water. it needs to take advantage of this more.

ps a high speed catamaran to clearwater would also be nice. its a pain to get there in the summer

The developers of Seaboard Square at one time included a high speed ferry from downtown Tampa to St. Pete as part of the project, which was never created. I think a ferry could be a good fit for the area. Possibly for comute or sporting events in either downtown.

It would definitely benefit both cities.

Yea im so surprised that a city such as tampa and st pete havent capitalized on the waterways opportunities there are...i mean its a no brainer and there should def be some ferry taxis once the DT and channelside area gets going to shuffle the ppl between those areas and by the riverwalk.

Thx for making this thread, this is just what we need. Connecting DT St Pete and DT Tampa by ferries would work in my opinion.. You fly into Boston and wisk across to P Town in 20-30 minutes.. You would think someone with deep pockets would invest in this.. Water is our trump card and we need to use it more..

Thx for making this thread, this is just what we need. Connecting DT St Pete and DT Tampa by ferries would work in my opinion.. You fly into Boston and wisk across to P Town in 20-30 minutes.. You would think someone with deep pockets would invest in this.. Water is our trump card and we need to use it more..

They have one is Jax somewhere. I remember driving to some dog beach by a docked aircraft carrier, then using a ferry to get across the body of water to get to the people beaches.

They have one is Jax somewhere. I remember driving to some dog beach by a docked aircraft carrier, then using a ferry to get across the body of water to get to the people beaches.
They have one going up and down the St. John river bringing people to the Landing, near the MOSH (Museum Of Science and History), and other landmarks like the stadium and elsewhere. But Jax also has rail service, and that helps ease the travel, although it is always busydriving in that city.

Tampa and St.Pete ferry service would benefit somewhat, but that will not ease the travel pains throughout the Metro. You still have people coming back from work, tourists heading to Clearwater, and everyday drivers that don't drive in St. Pete's direction. All we to worry about is light rail at this moment. That is a big priorty for Tampa at this moment. Other transportation ideas can wait, but we need rail and I mean NOW!

I actually wrote letters to the local governments about this in the past. St. Petersburg ended up sending me studies about a ferry (I have it filed away somewhere) while the city of Clearwater just humored me about having a ferry that failed running between the beach and mainland and how they might employ a ferry again during the construction of the beachwalk due to the parking crunch...

Then a week after that letter exchange between me and Hoyt Hamilton, the city announced plans for a pedestrian bridge between the city and the beach. :p

there are more reasons for it than just easing traffic congestion. economically,it would be bring in more money for the businesses in channelside/ybor/downtown tampa and DT St Pete. also would bring in money for the cities from the fares. and it'd be a nice way of bringing some life into the downtown area and bringing the two cities together. as long as the fares are somewhat low, like $5-7 roundtrip, I think it could be a success. I read an old article online about the Seaboard Shuttle plans that you were referring to. I guess the plans fell through because the guy from Seaboard Square mentioned that he hoped to have it running by summer 06.

True True, it will certainly bring more benefits for the region, Manatee residents will spend less time heading to Tampa and Polks residents can get to St.Pete faster, but that is only somewhat of the drivers. Now if I would just come up to you and asked you would you rather have a ferry service that would help just a part of the Bay Area or a rail system throughout the region connecting many of the main cities and also other towns what would you rather choose? I'm not saying a ferry service is bad, it's pretty good actually, but be have to set our main issues from other issues and a rail network is more important than a ferry service.

Now if I would just come up to you and asked you would you rather have a ferry service that would help just a part of the Bay Area or a rail system throughout the region connecting many of the main cities and also other towns what would you rather choose?

That's comparing apples to oranges. Of course a rail system would be better if you had to choose only one. But a rail system would cost north of a billion dollars and a ferry would cost a couple of million. There's also not much in the way of construction for a ferry, one could be running this year if the powers at be wanted to.

while the city of Clearwater just humored me about having a ferry that failed running between the beach and mainland and how they might employ a ferry again during the construction of the beachwalk due to the parking crunch...

Then a week after that letter exchange between me and Hoyt Hamilton, the city announced plans for a pedestrian bridge between the city and the beach. :p

Possibly with the recent announcement of a downtown mariana, Clearwater may be willing and able to change their minds, especially if Tampa and St. Pete support a ferry.

That's comparing apples to oranges. Of course a rail system would be better if you had to choose only one. But a rail system would cost north of a billion dollars and a ferry would cost a couple of million. There's also not much in the way of construction for a ferry, one could be running this year if the powers at be wanted to.
Rather than spending billions to home thousands of people, lets spend millions to home just a few of many of the people. That is what you are saying. Ofcourse it rail will cost more than a ferry, but that is becasue it is Rail. You are not going to get rail for $50 mil. that can go throughout the Bay Area. If that was true, then building Skypoint would cosy like $800,000. Let me tell you this, the benefits outrun the risks.

I agree with jonknee. because it's so much cheaper than light rail and doesn't require any infrastructure changes, it's more feasible to have ferry service. yeah it would be nice to have lightrail but I don't think the city needs it right now. sure, it's better to build it before there's an overwhelming need for it but i just don't think the city is ready for it. the costs of lightrail far outweigh the benefits. ferry service can probably be here within a year if they wanted it to.

I'm all for light rail, trust me. I live in down town and would *love* to be able to go back and forth to the airport easily. All I'm trying to say is a ferry doesn't compete with light rail. It doesn't come close to comparing in budget, planning, approval, etc. Having a ferry or not does nothing for a light rail system. So it's unfair to say one or the other. They aren't mutually exclusive.

So basically, yes for light rail and yes for a ferry. If they are decent and well thought out proposals that is. I would definitely take a ferry over to St. Pete for dinner if it operated late enough.

I agree with jonknee. because it's so much cheaper than light rail and doesn't require any infrastructure changes, it's more feasible to have ferry service. yeah it would be nice to have lightrail but I don't think the city needs it right now. sure, it's better to build it before there's an overwhelming need for it but i just don't think the city is ready for it. the costs of lightrail far outweigh the benefits. ferry service can probably be here within a year if they wanted it to.
Tampa doesn't need light rail, are you nuts? Tampa is the 3rd largest Mero in the State. We are behind Miami and Jax and Orlando is behind us. Both Top cities already have light rail and Orlando is working out the final deal for light rail in that city. Why should we wait anymore? Already it is going to be 10-15 years for the whole project to be completed and why should we wait more for a "cheaper solution"? As I said before, a ferry service will only help a minority of the Area, but rail will help much of the Area. If you want to rather wait for hours on I-275, Veterans Crossway, or even Malfunction Juction but be able to leave from DT Tampa to St. Pete so you can go shopping or watch a baseball game then go ahead, but you will still have the traffic everyday.

We have waited too long for light rail in Tampa and throughout the region and if Tampa wants to compete with the same level cities throughout the States then the only way is to keep with the idea of light rail.

Eh? The Tampa metro is more than twice the size of Jacksonville's... it's the third largest in the southeast....

There is NO excuse for postponing rail at this point. It will take years of budgeting and financing. Starting soon is key.

Eh? The Tampa metro is more than twice the size of Jacksonville's... it's the third largest in the southeast....

There is NO excuse for postponing rail at this point. It will take years of budgeting and financing. Starting soon is key.

Are you sure about that? I thought Jacksonville's metro was the largest in the state?

I do agree, however, that there is no excuse for postponing rail in our area. . . ;)

Are you sure about that? I thought Jacksonville's metro was the largest in the state?



I think you're confusing the cities size vesus the metro size. Jacksonville is a larger city then Tampa, but I think Tampa's metro is larger. ;) Miami's metro is the largest in the state if you count Ft. Laud and the West Palm areas.

As far as ferry goes, you can't even really compare it to light rail. The ferry is more like a bus service on water not a rail system on water. To compare the two is crazy. However, we need both asap.

Are you sure about that? I thought Jacksonville's metro was the largest in the state?

I do agree, however, that there is no excuse for postponing rail in our area. . . ;)

The confusion with Jax is that it is billed as the largest CITY in the state. That's because the city limits is almost all of Duval County. So it's population as a city is over 1 million while places like Tampa and Orlando have a population of around 300,000. Metro Tampabay is #2 in the state. with 3.2-4 million people depending on what they count as the metro area. The DMA is well over 4 million people and that is what you can sell advertising against. Much to the dismay of some, this won't be changing anytime soon, unless they keep chopping our metro into smaller pieces.

I think the benefits of ferry service between DT Tampa and St Pete are being overstated. The implementation of ferry service would do absolutely nothing to relieve congestion in the metro area. This service would serve tourism and recreation and very little actual commuting. It's a cool idea but the operating benefits (frequency and capacity) just aren't there nor would be the demand from commuters. This type of service has been studied, the benefits just aren't there.

I think the benefits of ferry service between DT Tampa and St Pete are being overstated. The implementation of ferry service would do absolutely nothing to relieve congestion in the metro area. This service would serve tourism and recreation and very little actual commuting. It's a cool idea but the operating benefits (frequency and capacity) just aren't there nor would be the demand from commuters. This type of service has been studied, the benefits just aren't there.
basically what I have been saying the whole time

Guys this is not the answer to our traffic woes, more than it linking DT St Pete with DT Tampa as a means of getting to each other quickly on our water ways..

Both Downtowns would benefit as you could go to a Devil Ray game, or Lightning game, or enjoy Baywalk and Channelside..

I didn't say it's "THE answer" to improve congestion. I just said it will relieve SOME congestion.I'm sure there are people who live in and around downtown st pete that would use the ferry to get to downtown tampa for work.... it's a very cheap service to establish, relative to the costs of light rail and wouldn't take 10 yrs to do so. I'm not sure how long ago the "study" was done but it's something that should be revisited. they could just have a few small boats, like the ones they use to get to Caladesi Island and one route for starters. they don't have to start it off with these million dollar ferries that the bigger cities have. it seriously isn't an expensive proposition

Urbanite I was referring to other posters that were somewhat against it... You have a great idea.. I just wish I had the funds to get it started..

why are people getting so bent outta shape over a ferry? the ferry is more of a tourist deal than viable transportation! A ferry would be cool for people to get back and forth to go shopping and sightseeing not traveling for work or school. Light rail and a ferry service are two totally different animals.

A ferry service would be kick ass for downtown tampa and st pete. I think it wouldbe great to use that during the weekend to go bar hoping between cities without driving across the bridge, imagine that!

I'd invest in a company that would start it up. I think it could make some money

where could I sign up? I would not mind investing a couple thousand into this venture, that is if I had a couple thousand lying around.

I think the benefits of ferry service between DT Tampa and St Pete are being overstated. The implementation of ferry service would do absolutely nothing to relieve congestion in the metro area. This service would serve tourism and recreation and very little actual commuting. It's a cool idea but the operating benefits (frequency and capacity) just aren't there nor would be the demand from commuters. This type of service has been studied, the benefits just aren't there.
110% agreed.


PS, I would rather have a rail line that almost bee-lines it from DT Tampa to DT St Pete via a 4th bridge spanning the bay from the tip of Tampa (near MacDill) over to St Pete somewhere north of Snell Isle... It would obviously never happen politically, but oh well.

$1.2 million just for the study??? it shouldn't even cost nearly that much to get it up and running!!!

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec/27/na-county-sees-ferry-service-in-our-future/

Possibly with the recent announcement of a downtown mariana, Clearwater may be willing and able to change their minds, especially if Tampa and St. Pete support a ferry.

I'd be more on board with that idea if TBARTA was the one who proposed this plan.

Hamilton is off the Clearwater Commision but I don't know... they've backed a private ferry in the past but with a lack of hotels or parking downtown (though even less on Clearwater Beach) it still may be a reach. The private ferry wasn't running regularly enough and the city doesn't host many pedestrians -- outside of Scientology students running around...

why are people getting so bent outta shape over a ferry? the ferry is more of a tourist deal than viable transportation! A ferry would be cool for people to get back and forth to go shopping and sightseeing not traveling for work or school. Light rail and a ferry service are two totally different animals.

A ferry service would be kick ass for downtown tampa and st pete. I think it wouldbe great to use that during the weekend to go bar hoping between cities without driving across the bridge, imagine that!

They compliment each other. They are both spokes of mass transit. I mean, shit... Buses compliment the above two items -- not as a single entity (as the region implements it as) but as a part of a greater network.

The key is coordination -- not getting bent out of shape that one version of transit is implemented before the other.

Whoa, where did this thread pop up from? I can safely say that some of these dead threads deserve to be brought back to the forefront again...including this one.

I don't think ferry service would be a bad idea, but if it won't allow transport of cars, then I don't think it will do all that good to relieve traffic congestion.

We need monorail or LRT...

no sense in having ferry service if it DOES allow for transport of cars. the whole point is to get cars off the road and be less dependent of them. you can drive to St Pete. an autoferry is to transport cars to places that you can't reach by car (ie to an island)... ferry service would only succeed if it can cut the time in half to get between St Pete/Tampa. so basically if it's a 15-20 min ride,then it could work out. and of course, cost is an issue. I think it should be free or a $1 each way at MOST. other revenue can come from advertising on the boat.

The Rays and other downtown St. Pete attractions could benefit from a speedy ferry service to downtown Tampa, and vice versa for places like the Aquarium. It would definately be cool to bar hop Tampa and St. Pete in the same evening!

Plus, if I lived in either downtown and worked in or near the other, I wouldn't hesitate to use a ferry for day to day travel.

Oh and you can drive from Manhattan to Staten Island, but the free ferry service is still packed. I don't think it transports autos either.

Hillsborough votes to study cross-bay ferry

TAMPA -- The Hillsborough County Commission voted unanimously today to request $1.2-million in federal money to study the possibility of creating a new water taxi or ferry service for Tampa Bay.

The service would run between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

The idea of linking the two sides of the bay with ferry service has been discussed for years, notably when Tampa was bidding to become a host site for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The county wants to conduct a more thorough, in-depth analysis of the concept than has been done previously.

- Bill Varian, Times staff writer

January 03, 2008


http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/01/hillsborough-vo.html

yay, $1.2 mil of wasted money! :ohno:

^^
I'd have to agree although I should probably keep my mouth shut since it's studies such as this one that keep me employed:)

^^
I'd have to agree although I should probably keep my mouth shut since it's studies such as this one that keep me employed:)
lol, true!

I think that this is a bad idea, because it will be a waste of money in the long run and it will end up failing in the end and then the money that we could have spent on the LRT has gone down the hole!!!

I think that this is a bad idea, because it will be a waste of money in the long run and it will end up failing in the end and then the money that we could have spent on the LRT has gone down the hole!!!
And that's why I don't want this to happen. The complain and complain how mass transit needs to happen in Tampa and the whole area and than they waste money on stuff like this. Next, they'll be throwing away $2 mil to do a study to see if it's better replacing the trolleys with pony rides! :bash:

Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 11:21am EDT
FHA grant funds study for ferry linking Tampa and St. PetersburgTampa Bay Business Journal
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A ferry boat project has received $475,000 in grant money from the Federal Highway Administration.

The Hillsborough County Waterborne Transportation Feasibility Study and Demonstration Project, which is sponsored by Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, and Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, aims to assess the feasibility of design and construction of ferry boats and terminal facilities linking the waterfronts of downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg.

The funding is part of more than $42 million in grants from the FHA’s Ferry Boat program. This includes 35 grants to build and improve ferry docks and facilities in 15 states and Puerto Rico.

Congress authorized the Ferry Boat Program to fund projects in areas with high passenger demand and limited means of transportation. Program funds can be applied to capital improvements for existing ferry operations to increase the number of riders, relieve congestion or address environmental or operational concerns, a release said.

Other than the Hillsborough project, the only other such grant in Florida was $712,500 toward the rehabilitation of the Mayport Ferry and Dock Ramp in Jacksonville.

I think a ferry is worth it -- just one more option to driving. They could run it from The Pier to Channelside. As others said, I see this mainly for tourists and leisure travel between the two cities. Although some would commute to work by ferry, most would use rail or drive.

On a side note, during my brief time in NYC I rode on a couple of party boats. The rivers were full of them. I know there are some party boat services in the Tampa Bay area. I wonder how popular they are here.

It could be helpful to some businesses that have offices in both DT areas, I am thinking law firms and CPS's, etc. I know I would use it sometimes, but mainly for leisure type activities.

I have to wonder what type of boats they would use. One has to think they would have to be reasonably fast boats to make the trip in a decent time.

Steve