Page 47: of Marine News Magazine (January 2017)

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SHORTSEA SHIPPING “So far, the only surprises have been positive. I didn’t anticipate it to be so popular so quickly. I love it. I love how comfortable it is and that the boat itself is a destination.

The views of our respective cities are really amazing and my appreciation of where we live has only grown.” – St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman

The market will ? rst decide that, but then it’s up to the the Howard Frankland Bridge and approximately 35,000 political will of our elected leaders. I will certainly work across the Gandy Bridge. That said, he conceded, “I’d be hard to make it a full-time option should the demand be reluctant to put a number on what success looks like right there,” he explained. Early support has been encouraging. now, especially given that we only have one vessel.”

For example, the local NHL Lightning team has been a So far, so good. Kriseman says that the ferry has exceed- loyal partner, once selling out an entire boat for a game. ed early expectations. He adds quickly, “So far, the only

Separately, local cable provider Frontier Communications surprises have been positive. I didn’t anticipate it to be so gave out free tickets during Thanksgiving week and addi- popular so quickly. I love it. I love how comfortable it is tionally provided $150,000 in free AD time. Beyond this, and that the boat itself is a destination. The views of our they underwrote the cost of ‘Free Ride’ Sundays on the respective cities are really amazing and my appreciation of third Sunday of every month. Krisemen added, “I am very where we live has only grown.” pleased and excited. It has exceeded my expectations. The numbers tell us people are mostly taking advantage of it for

Awaiting the Final Report CardAwaiting the Final Report Card entertainment purposes – to enjoy what each other’s cities

The ferry consortium is conducting customer surveys con- offer. The commuter aspect of this will continue to be the tinuously throughout the project in order to quantify con- challenge. The ridership numbers don’t tell the entire sto- sumer interest in water transportation as well as to gain better ry, for there is an economic bene? t in that those traveling insight in how future service might be designed and operated. across the Bay are spending money in each other’s cities.”

And, as the ferry trial continues, it has sparked interest in the

The ferry’s utility to the local community manifests it- community about other similar efforts. For example, local self in many ways. The bene? ts to the environment are an stakeholders are investigating the feasibility of a commuter obvious place to start, as fewer cars on the road will trans- ferry from McDill AFB, something which would reportedly late into less air pollution, reduced road congestion, and cut a 1.5 hour commute for some to just 10 minutes.

less frequent pavement maintenance. Krisemen, however,

For now, the novelty of a new and convenient option for puts the elimination of road congestion as his number one Tampa Bay commuters hasn’t worn off, ridership is slowly priority. He told MarineNews, “Reduced road congestion climbing, and the pro? le of what could one day be a per- lends itself to convenience for local residents. The environ- manent ? xture for the dual county, two-city region, is also ment will bene? t. The bottom line is that our current situ- on the rise. It took a lot of local courage to spend that kind ation is not sustainable. People sitting in their cars on the of money to try something new. At the same time, ‘even

Howard Frankland Bridge is not the future.” money’ says they will recoup that investment many times

According to Kriseman, the estimate of how many peo- over, in a myriad of ways, amortized over time. If so, that’s ple commute back and forth from St. Pete to Tampa via au- a ‘ferry’ good thing, indeed.

tomobile every day is around 151,000 trips per day across www.crossbayferry.com 47 www.marinelink.com MN

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