Students will soon be able to traverse Tampa Bay on a 55-foot catamaran.
In November, the Cross-Bay Ferry will open, providing public transportation between St. Petersburg and Tampa. Tickets cost $10 for a one-way trip.
St. Petersburg’s port is within walking distance of the campus near Bay Shore Drive NE. From there the Ferry heads to the Tampa Convention Center, located in the Channelside area of downtown Tampa.
The proximity of the St. Petersburg ferry port makes it a popular idea among USF St. Petersburg students.
Kat Harris, a biology major, became familiar with using ferries as a means of transportation during her visit to Greece, where large ferries connect the country’s numerous islands. She said that she would definitely use the ferry.
“My mom lives downtown in Tampa and it’ll be cool to see her,” Harris said. “I think it’s a great idea. It could also help students go back and forth between campuses.”
Harris thought that $10 for a one-way ticket is expensive. She’d like to see a student discount bring the price down.”
Zeke Handelman, a junior marketing major, agreed that the price is too high for frequent use.
“[The price] is a bit steep,” said Handelman. “$5 would be better.”
Despite the cost, Handelman said that he’d still use the ferry occasionally because of how close it brings passengers to Amalie Arena. The Cross-Bay Ferry’s Tampa port is only a five minute walk away.
“Amalie Arena is a nice area,” said Handelman. “I don’t go there often, but I’d probably go there more if there was a ferry.”
Not every USFSP student is sold on the idea of marine transportation to Tampa. Sophomore international business major Cody Schoh said that he doesn’t have a need for the Cross-Bay Ferry.
“I’d never use it,” said Schoh. “Maybe [I’d go for] a one-time thing to experience it, but with a car on campus, I don’t need it.”
Schoh also said that while he respects the initiative, he thinks that the distance between the two ports is too far and that it won’t actually solve problems, such as dealing with traffic.
Senior biology major Jasmine Cutler said that the ferry should cut down on the number of DUIs in the area.
“I think DUIs will drop insanely. Think of all the college kids going to parties in Ybor,” said Cutler.
November marks the beginning of the ferry’s six-month pilot program. The initiative is the product of collaboration between St. Petersburg, the city of Tampa, Pinellas County and Hillsborough County. Each of the four partners pitched in $350,000 of the total $1.4 million cost.
During those six months, the popularity and use of the ferry will be monitored to determine if it will become a permanent addition to the public transportation system in St. Petersburg and Tampa.
The Cross-Bay Ferry will seat up to 149 passengers and its trips will take about 50 minutes in either direction.
There isn’t a firm schedule for the ferry’s runs yet, but a tentative timetable details two round trips a day and three on Saturday.
Tickets will be available for purchase beginning on Oct. 15, with the ferry beginning its runs on Nov. 4. The tickets can be purchased online or at the dock if seats are available.
Information from the Tampa Bay Times and CrossBayFerry.com was used in the writing of this article.
