Bradenton Beach officials are ready for a ride.
Bradenton Beach commissioners voted April 6 to approve revisions to an interlocal agreement with Manatee County for a water taxi service between Bradenton, Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria.
In Bradenton Beach, the water taxi would stop at the floating dock on the Historic Bridge Street Pier and also at the Coquina Beach South Boat Ramp, 1465 Gulf Drive S.
During the April 6 meeting, city attorney Ricinda Perry outlined changes to the agreement.
“I put in there that it had to be in conformity with the sovereign submerged land lease provisions for the city pier,” Perry told commissioners.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection owns the submerged land under the pier, which is leased by the city. Under the lease terms, the floating dock is for public use and, according to Perry, allows for first-come, first-serve use.
Perry also added a revision stating the county would pay for any needed U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act improvements to the dock.
Commissioner Jake Spooner motioned to approve the agreement with the amendments. Spooner’s motion was seconded by Commissioner Jan Vosburgh and passed 3-0. Commissioners Marilyn Maro and Ralph Cole were absent with excuse.
The Manatee Board of County Commissioners will consider the agreement next month.
“I am planning on having the agreement between Manatee County and the operator to be approved by the board by early to mid-May and then the interlocal agreements between county and city of Bradenton Beach, the city of Anna Maria and the city of Bradenton on the board agenda for approval no later than early to mid-May,” Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Conventions and Visitors Bureau, told The Islander April 6.
Falcione is spearheading the effort to establish a water taxi, a 40-minute looping route between the four stops.
The service would begin with Friday-Sunday operations, 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., and the 50-foot pontoon-style vessels would carry up to 49 passengers.
The ferry would have different price points. An adult one-way pass would be $8, seniors and children older than 3 would be $6. There would also be a $10 hopper pass for multiple rides. Children under 3 would ride free.
“The vessels are being built right now,” Falcione said. “The boatbuilders are hoping to have them completed by the end of June.”
Falcione said the county hopes to launch the service by July.
He said efforts were being made by Manatee County Area Transit to ensure alternate modes of transportation were ready to support taxi riders should problems arise, such as inclement weather.
“We work side by side with MCAT,” Falcione said. “If the weather causes the ferry to stop or any kind of mechanical issues, we’ll have the buses nearby that can take the passengers that were planning on being on the water taxi to take them by trolley or bus.”
Falcione said the county also is working on an MCAT app to help people know where the water taxis are and when to be at boarding locations.
“There’s a lot of cooperation, a lot of integration and the goal is to get there by July,” Falcione said.
