A third vessel for the Gulf Islands Ferry Service should be in service by the end of the year.
Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Center, informed the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization’s board Sept. 29 of the timeline and that the service could add two stops — one at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and another at a landing in Palmetto.
“We’ll hit two years come the middle of January,” Falcione said of the service, which currently operates between the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier near the city’s downtown and the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach. “I was a pessimist, not an optimist, when we were asked to start this, but it’s working.”
And it’s working despite inclement weather that’s forced the cancellation of some service days, as well as two major hurricanes that closed the Anna Maria City Pier, eliminating one of three service stops.
In the first year of operation, the service moved 27,000 passengers but lost 148 days due to weather.
In year two, the passenger count has climbed 44% to exceed 40,000 so far and the lost days have declined despite hurricanes Helene and Milton last fall.
Those storms, in addition to taking out a landing, disrupted operations at the pier in Bradenton Beach.
“With the hard work of Mayor (John) Chappie’s organization, we were able to quickly partner and get Bridge Street rebuilt to at least get a two-stop ferry service. So that’s where we’re at today. It’s going to take you about 40 minutes, 45 minutes to get from downtown Bradenton to Historic Bridge Street,” Falcione said.
And where might the service, which currently operates two pontoon catamarans, be by next year?
Rebuilding a stop in Anna Maria might be more than a year away, but Falcione said a new 60-foot boat that can carry 93 passengers, including 35 indoor seats, will be “in service hopefully before the end of the calendar year.”
The new vessel could be what’s needed to implement a program to move workers between the mainland and the island.
Falcione also said the county continues to pursue adding a ferry stop at the South Coquina Boat Ramp, which could help boost the number of county residents using the service since “Coquina Beach is one of the beaches of choice for the residents.”
The county also has had discussions with Palmetto officials about building a ferry stop at the Palmetto Estuary, which is near the Bradenton Area Convention Center and a newer Marriott Resort.
Falcione said guests could “jitney down to the estuary,” hop a ferry and reach Bradenton’s riverfront or Anna Maria Island.
