The Cross-Bay Ferry carried a record 6,000-plus paying passengers in February. 

According to ferry operators, the service experienced significant ridership growth in February for both weekday and weekend service between Tampa and St. Petersburg. The February ridership came in at 6,070 passengers, up 57 percent from a dismal January.

The ferry has carried nearly 23,000 people since the pilot project began in November. 

"This pilot project is meant to test all aspects of ferry service in real life – prices, times and services – and I’m very pleased with the response so far," said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. "Everyone I meet who has taken the ferry raves about it and asks if we can run it more often."

Ferry operators said ticket sales bounced back from the relatively slow month of January, and ferry managers pointed to a combination of factors helping boost February ridership: More pleasant weather, new lower prices during the week, and a growing awareness of the ferry as an enjoyable option for crossing the Bay.

The Cross-Bay Ferry is contracted to run through April 2017 to test community interest for water transit.  

The service operates two round trips during weekdays and three on weekends. 

The ferry recently launched discounted $5 one-way tickets during weekdays (down from $10), new discounts on Tampa Streetcar fares, and the Commuter Value Pass package price is also cut by 50 percent to just $2.50 per trip.