CL readers may recall our story from a few weeks ago where we wrote about plans for possible water ferry service in the Tampa Bay area. Although there are many (including Tampa mayoral candidate Ed Turanchik) who dream about such service taking passengers from Tampa to St. Petersburg, there are no such plans in the works.
However, there has been a feasibility study being conducted for the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Organization (MPO), that would recommend further study of a possible service from the Apollo Beach-Gibstonton area to MacDill Air Force Base.
Tuesday morning Randy Kranjec, a senior planner with the MPO, made his presentation of that completed study to the MPO Board. Kranjec said that he was recommending to the Commissioners (made up of representatives from Hillsborough County and the 3 cities inside the county) that more work be done on that particular route, after 1200 of over 1325 surveys sent to MacDill commuters came back favorably for such a service.
Kranjec said that the vessels themselves would cost roughly $500,000. He also said that based on projections, the project could break even if one way fares cost $3.25, and could make a profit if the fares were $5 a ride (based on slightly more than 1,000 round trips per day).
This article appears in Dec 30, 2010 – Jan 5, 2011.