Post by ferryfast admin on Oct 24, 2011 11:28:27 GMT -5
Water taxis idea floated for Tampa Bay area
www2.tbo.com/news/business/2011/oct/24/5/water-taxis-idea-floated-ar-273765/
By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune
Updated: October 24, 2011 - 9:38 AM
A proposed water ferry between Gibsonton and MacDill Air Force Base is technically feasible, but the concept - which could be the precursor for additional water ferry or water taxi service in the Tampa Bay region - will require additional planning.
That's the outlook of a about a dozen officials from local jurisdictions and transportation agencies who reviewed a draft report on water ferry service released Friday.
Planners have been refining studies that began with a consideration of various routes serving downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg, West Shore, MacDill, Gibsonton and Apollo Beach.
At this point, no decision has been made on any specific route. Any or all could eventually be in play, depending on how potential government funding and interest from the private sector turns out, a process that's at least three years off for the first route.
The MacDill-Gibsonton route is being considered first based on a December draft report by Cambridge Systematics Inc.'s Fort Lauderdale office. Cost and time savings were its top attributes.
Cambridge said in its second-phase report that between 150 to 600 riders might use the MacDill-Gibsonton water route daily, predominantly MacDill employees whose average commute to work is now 47 minutes.
Others, including retirees getting health services or making purchases on the base, could use the water transport.
Fares for the water taxi were estimated at between $2.50 and $5 one way on the initial route at speeds up to 40 mph.
One promising factor involving the MadDill-Gibsonton concept is that water ferries or taxis could be used elsewhere during the day, perhaps for tourists.
tjackovics@tampatrib.com (813) 259-7817
_________________________
www2.tbo.com/news/business/2011/oct/24/5/water-taxis-idea-floated-ar-273765/
By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune
Updated: October 24, 2011 - 9:38 AM
A proposed water ferry between Gibsonton and MacDill Air Force Base is technically feasible, but the concept - which could be the precursor for additional water ferry or water taxi service in the Tampa Bay region - will require additional planning.
That's the outlook of a about a dozen officials from local jurisdictions and transportation agencies who reviewed a draft report on water ferry service released Friday.
Planners have been refining studies that began with a consideration of various routes serving downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg, West Shore, MacDill, Gibsonton and Apollo Beach.
At this point, no decision has been made on any specific route. Any or all could eventually be in play, depending on how potential government funding and interest from the private sector turns out, a process that's at least three years off for the first route.
The MacDill-Gibsonton route is being considered first based on a December draft report by Cambridge Systematics Inc.'s Fort Lauderdale office. Cost and time savings were its top attributes.
Cambridge said in its second-phase report that between 150 to 600 riders might use the MacDill-Gibsonton water route daily, predominantly MacDill employees whose average commute to work is now 47 minutes.
Others, including retirees getting health services or making purchases on the base, could use the water transport.
Fares for the water taxi were estimated at between $2.50 and $5 one way on the initial route at speeds up to 40 mph.
One promising factor involving the MadDill-Gibsonton concept is that water ferries or taxis could be used elsewhere during the day, perhaps for tourists.
tjackovics@tampatrib.com (813) 259-7817
_________________________