Thousands used the ferry in November, the first month of its six-month pilot.

TAMPA BAY – Cross-Bay Ferry reported strong ridership levels in the first month of service, with more than 7,400 people taking trips through Nov. 27 – the first month of the six-month pilot project.

Full-fare weekend service on the Cross-Bay Ferry performed well, and thousands of residents experienced the ferry service for free in the first month.  The details:

• The Cross-Bay Ferry sold more than 4,700 full-price, one-way tickets between Nov. 4 and Nov. 27.
  
• The Cross-Bay Ferry sold about 57 percent of its inventory in its first month.
• More than 2,700 people took free “Test the Waters” excursions from Tampa and St. Petersburg and rode on free trips sponsored by Frontier Communications.

“The ferry has been extraordinarily popular, and people are voting with their feet,” St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said. “We had a very good first month.”

Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman said, “These strong results demonstrate the desire of Tampa Bay residents for high quality, innovative transportation options. The ferry certainly seems to be proving its worth.”

The Cross-Bay Ferry is contracted to run from November 2016 through April 2017 to test community interest for water transit.

The Cross-Bay Ferry has begun regular, weekday service and launched a Commuter Value Pass program with 20 tickets for $100, which equates to $5 per ticket, compared with the regular $10 one-way ticket price. That purchase comes with free taxi rides home for those who miss the last ferry trip.

For information, go to CrossBayFerry.com.

Photo courtesy of Cross-Bay Ferry.

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