U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) announced today that the Tampa Bay area will receive a $4.8 million federal boost for capital funding to help launch a private-public, high-speed ferry service to link job centers across Tampa Bay, including MacDill Air Force Base.

“Tampa Bay’s long-term economic future will significantly benefit if we develop options for people to travel to work and home,” U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said. “Investing in our infrastructure is key to growing jobs in our community and remaining competitive.” 

The U.S. Department of Transportation grant is designated to Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART), in support of Hillsborough County’s plan to promote construction of new terminals and related infrastructure for a high-speed passenger ferry system. Terminals are planned at MacDill Air Force Base, Gibsonton, downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg.

“Hillsborough County and HART feasibility studies show strong ridership potential for a high-speed ferry service and this grant will assist in propelling the project forward,” said U.S. Rep. Castor, who advocated for the competitive grant. “A high-speed ferry option would be especially appealing to employees traveling daily to MacDill AFB, where thousands of vehicles clog up gates at the base every morning.” 

A high-speed passenger ferry is expected to connect key residential communities in south Hillsborough County with MacDill Air Force Base, pulling trips off Bayshore Boulevard and the surrounding roads. These roads are overwhelmed and traffic routinely snarled, making trips longer and more costly for neighbors.

The announcement comes shortly after U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx’s visit to Tampa on May 19 to build support for infrastructure investments and after a recent poll showing that 73 percent of Hillsborough County residents favored increasing transit options to include toll lanes on interstates, a high-speed ferry from southern Hillsborough to MacDill Air Force Base, and a light rail system. 

The high-speed passenger ferry system is planned as a private-public partnership and estimated to cost $17 million. U.S. Rep. Castor spearheaded the original feasibility study for a potential Tampa Bay waterborne transit system, which received federal funding in 2009 and was completed in 2011.  Earlier this year the Hillsborough County Commission voted to approve further funding for the public-private ferry partnership.

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