Town Hall Meeting Set On Ferry Service From South County

BRANDON, FL — Proponents say it's a practical approach to easing traffic congestion in south Hillsborough County and more affordable than building new roads.

Residents are invited to form their own opinions on a proposal to launch a ferry service between south Hillsborough County and MacDill Air Force Base during a town hall meeting Thursday night.

The meeting organized by Commission Chairwoman Pat Kemp and Commissioner Mariella Smith will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Center Place, 619 Vonderburg Drive in Brandon.

HMS Ferries, which operates the Cross Bay Ferry between downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg, and South Swell Development Group submitted a proposal to the county commission to launch the public/private south county ferry service within three years.

Representatives from the partnership will be on hand to answer questions.

After a lengthy debate in May, county commissioners decided to postpone making a decision until August to give staff more time to investigate the proposal.

HMS Ferries said the proposed ferry service would shorten the current commute time on roads between south county and MacDill AFB from one hour to 15 minutes.

The private partners are recommending running the service from Williams Park in Riverview to the Air Force base and are offering to cover the $104 million operating, maintenance and repair costs over a 20-year period..

Hillsborough County and other state and local public agencies would provide an estimated $36 million in capital costs for ferries, ferry terminals, docks, vessels and trams, all of which
would be publicly owned and leased to the private operators.

Kemp has been an outspoken advocate for the ferry service, arguing that it would cost less than widening two miles of road.

To learn more about the permanent Cross-Bay Ferry plan, click here.