Over the years, the prospects of a Tampa Bay ferry service have come and gone with the tides. In fact, just last year the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority’s master plan included a possible ferry connection between the downtowns of St. Petersburg and Tampa. Now we have a (federally-funded) feasibility study ordered up by the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Authority to see if such an idea might finally float. Results are expected by the end of the year.
“I think it’s a fabulous opportunity for tourism,” pointed out Karen Kress, the Tampa Downtown Partnership’s director of transportation and planning. “I think the jury is still out for commuting.”
Frankly, that jury will likely be out indefinitely. This is not San Francisco, Seattle or New York. Light rail is still too problematic for many Bay Area motorists. Plus, it would take at least an hour to travel the 18 nautical miles between Tampa and St. Pete downtowns. But for visitors and non-commuting locals who want to be uniquely privy to what truly makes this area so special — their ship might finally be coming in.