The Cross Bay Ferry that will connect commuters and fun-seekers between downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg will launch in early Nov. 4.
- Ferry will connect 2 downtown districts
- Service to launch Nov. 4
- Cross Bay Ferry website to be live this week
The six-month pilot program for the Cross Bay Ferry will launch in early November. The 98-foot-long ferry is traveling down the coast from New England and on its way to Tampa Bay.
"I feel like it's a good opportunity to have fun on the way there and not sit in the car the whole time," Tampa resident Anna Effenberg said.
Many residents said they love the idea of the ferry to cut down on traffic and their commute time.
"I'm actually really excited. The one reason I don't always like going to St. Pete is the commute and the traffic," Effenberg said.
The ferry can carry 149 passengers that can sit indoors or outside on a deck. It will dock in downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg, making it easy for travelers to get to a game or to shops and restaurants.
"So few of us get out on that bay. We just stick our toe in the water on the beach but we just don't get out on the bay unless we've got our own boat," said Dave Scott with Tampa Bay Citizens for High Speed Ferry.
Local governments voted to fund the project last month. Tickets will go on sale in October, and the boat will launch Nov. 4.
The Cross Bay Ferry website will be launched this week with tickets available for purchase Oct. 15.
The service will provide two round trip runs Monday through Friday and Sunday, and three round trips on Saturday between the Tampa Convention Center and the St. Petersburg Yacht Basin at Bayshore Drive NE.
Adult fares will be $10 each way and $8 for children. Children under the age of 3 are free.