Cross-Bay Ferry Permanent Service Survey

Your Input Would Help Start Permanent Ferry Service

The Cross-Bay Ferry has set new ridership records, nearly doubling the ridership of the first year. Many weekend trips are sold out. Local government is considering a partnership plan developed with HMS Ferries, the operator of the Cross Bay Ferry, for year-round, permanent service. We'd like to know if you support this plan, and how it might be expanded. Your opinion and support can help make ferry service permanent.

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* 1. What is your home zip code?

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* 2. The plan for permanent service includes  year-round, regular weeknight and weekend service provided by up to four ferries running between downtown Tampa, downtown St. Petersburg and a new terminal in the Big Bend area in rapidly growing South Hillsborough County.

Weekday commuter service would run between South County and MacDill, providing 8,000 military families with new, public transit options while taking tens of millions of miles of car travel off our congest roadways each year.

Other commuter, evening and weekend routes would come on line as demand for ferry service grows.

This public transit service would run without local taxpayer operating subsubsidies.   It would be the only transit system in Florida that would not require such subsidies.

Public funds would only be used to buy four, new fast ferry vessels, like those used by the Cross-Bay Ferry, plus docks, terminals and other needed instructure at the four port. All would be publicly owned.

The $35 million capital investment for this permanent service is less than the cost of widening one mile of county roadway or building an highway on-ramp.  Permanent ferry service could start in just two years.   What is your opinion about this plan?

I strongly support it.

I somewhat support it.

I do not support it.

I have no opinion.

Please share any comments you have about this plan.

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* 3. We also want to know which potential future routes you would personally use. In answering these questions, please assume there would be good connecting options between each terminal and major destinations within a mile or two of any terminal.

	I would use daily.	I would use one or twice a month.	I would use a couple of times a year.	I would never use this service option.
Commuter and weekday service between Downtown St. Petersburg and Downtown Tampa	Commuter and weekday service between Downtown St. Petersburg and Downtown Tampa I would use daily.	Commuter and weekday service between Downtown St. Petersburg and Downtown Tampa I would use one or twice a month.	Commuter and weekday service between Downtown St. Petersburg and Downtown Tampa I would use a couple of times a year.	Commuter and weekday service between Downtown St. Petersburg and Downtown Tampa I would never use this service option.
Commuter and weekday service between Downtown St. Petersburg and Westshore with express transit connections to Tampa International Airport.	Commuter and weekday service between Downtown St. Petersburg and Westshore with express transit connections to Tampa International Airport. I would use daily.	Commuter and weekday service between Downtown St. Petersburg and Westshore with express transit connections to Tampa International Airport. I would use one or twice a month.	Commuter and weekday service between Downtown St. Petersburg and Westshore with express transit connections to Tampa International Airport. I would use a couple of times a year.	Commuter and weekday service between Downtown St. Petersburg and Westshore with express transit connections to Tampa International Airport. I would never use this service option.
Evening and weekend service between Westshore and downtown St. Petersburg.	Evening and weekend service between Westshore and downtown St. Petersburg. I would use daily.	Evening and weekend service between Westshore and downtown St. Petersburg. I would use one or twice a month.	Evening and weekend service between Westshore and downtown St. Petersburg. I would use a couple of times a year.	Evening and weekend service between Westshore and downtown St. Petersburg. I would never use this service option.
Commuter and weekday service between Apollo Beach/South Hillsborough County and St. Petersburg	Commuter and weekday service between Apollo Beach/South Hillsborough County and St. Petersburg I would use daily.	Commuter and weekday service between Apollo Beach/South Hillsborough County and St. Petersburg I would use one or twice a month.	Commuter and weekday service between Apollo Beach/South Hillsborough County and St. Petersburg I would use a couple of times a year.	Commuter and weekday service between Apollo Beach/South Hillsborough County and St. Petersburg I would never use this service option.

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Please rank the qualities of a passenger ferry service that are most important for you to make use of your preferred option. (PLEASE NOTE: 1 is the most important, 4 is the least important)

Frequency of service

Time it takes for the trip

Cost of the trip

Seamless connecting service to and from ferry terminals.

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* 5. Please rank the reasons why you would want to see permanent ferry service developed.

Though I might not use it, I believe ferry service would help reduce congestion on our roadways.

I would personally use ferry service to get around Tampa Bay.

I believe ferry service would promote tourism and positive growth and development.

I believe ferry service would make our region a more fun and livable place to live and work.

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* 6. Would you like to be kept informed about the plans for permanent ferry service and how you can help make them a reality.

No, but thank you.

Yes, I would like to help make permanent ferry service a reality. Here is my email address so you can follow up with me:

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* 7. Please share with us any other comments, suggestions or ideas you have about permanent ferry service for Tampa Bay. Please include your email if you would like us to respond to your comment or question.