The Tampa Bay Ferry and Taxi will soon begin operating in the Madeira Beach area for the first time.
- Ferry will run between St. Pete, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach
- Soft opening for service scheduled for Oct. 1
- Madeira Beach residents will get half off ticket price
- A closer look at the Madeira Beach route
“I look forward to working with the cities and counties and developing these routes,” said the man leading the effort, Capt. Mark Hubbard. “Bringing waterborne transportation to the Gulf beaches."
Hubbard said he purchased two boats that can each hold up to 49 passengers. The ferry's route will run between Madeira Beach, Treasure Island and St. Petersburg.
The cost for a one-way trip is $10, while a day pass is $19.50. A soft opening is scheduled for Oct. 1, and Hubbard said the rides that first weekend will be free.
“There’s a phrase called ‘transportainment,’” he said. “What a way to travel. I mean, this is sexy.”
Tampa Bay Ferry and Taxi Captain Mark Hubbard (pictured) plans to start his new service with a soft opening on October 1. (Josh Rojas, staff)
City and county leaders showed up for the inaugural voyage at Madeira Beach City Hall on Wednesday. Mayor Travis Palladeno said having a ferry service is a "no brainer" in a town surrounded by water.
“It makes sense to be able to use these waterways to move people,” he said. “Up and down, from businesses to businesses, from towns to towns.”
Hubbard said he got a small subsidy of $25,000 for the first year of service. The water taxi will initially make three trips on Fridays and Saturdays. Madeira Beach residents will always get 50 percent off the ticket price.
The Tampa Bay Ferry and Taxi's grand opening is scheduled to run in conjunction with the Seafood Festival on Oct. 28.