MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County commissioners have authorized County Administrator Scott Hopes to spend up to $700,000 to design and build two pontoon boats for use as water taxis to serve Anna Maria Island and Bradenton.
Manatee County will own the boats and place liens on the vessels to be managed and operated by the Clearwater-based Clearwater Ferry company.
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Executive Director Elliott Falcione presented the funding request to county commissioners during the commission’s Oct. 6 land use meeting.
The county commission has not yet been presented with a formal contract agreement with Clearwater Ferry. Nor have commissioners been presented with the interlocal agreements pertaining to the public day dock in downtown Bradenton, the City Pier in Anna Maria and the floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach, all contemplated as water taxi stops. The taxis will also stop at the county-owned Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach.
With an anticipated start date in February or March, the water taxi service is expected to initially operate from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. A memo included in the Oct. 6 meeting packet notes that service could be enhanced based on monthly demand and consumer feedback and the routes could be expanded to include additional stops. There is currently no water taxi stop proposed in Holmes Beach.
According to the route schedule included in the meeting packet, one water taxi would depart from the Bridge Street Pier at 10:30 a.m. and make its first stop in Anna Maria. The other water taxi would depart from the downtown Bradenton dock at 10:30 a.m. en route to the City Pier in Anna Maria.
According to the fee schedule included in the meeting packet, a one-way ride will cost $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for children 3-11 years old and free for children under three. An all-day hopper pass will cost $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for children 3-11 years old, with those under three riding for free.
The memo notes the county will spend up to $700,000 to build two water taxis and spend an additional $350,000 per year to subsidize the operation for at least the first two years. The memo lists Coquina Beach Market revenues, surplus beach concession revenues and tourist development tax revenues as funding sources for the water taxi operations.
The CVB will market and promote the service throughout Manatee County and beyond.
Falcione said coolers, beach chairs and other items will be allowed on the water taxis and the water taxi design team hopes to accommodate bicycles too. The Clearwater Ferry website notes Coast Guard regulations prohibit bicycles on the vessels they operate in the Clearwater area.
“The operator that we’re going to be bringing forth to you has committed to hiring local captains that have local knowledge of the waterways,” Hopes said.
Public input
During public input, county resident Glen Gibellina said of the water taxi service: “It’s going to lose money, but that’s what transit does, and I don’t have a problem with that.”
County resident Glen Gibellina shared his thoughts on the proposed water taxi service.
The Clearwater Ferry website includes images of some vessels that feature protective siding and/or windows and some vessels that do not. After noting that he previously operated a parasailing business in Siesta Key and has a 100-ton captain’s license, Gibellina expressed concerns about water taxi passengers being exposed to inclement weather.
“You have to protect the inside of that cabin or else it’s going to be a disaster. You need to redesign that shuttle for inclement weather,” he said.
Gibellina also addressed the potential impact the water taxis could have on Anna Maria Island’s service and hospitality industry workforce.
“You can turn this into a great workforce shuttle. The tourists might be your bread and butter, but if you can get the workers onto that Island for a reasonable price and timely manner, I think it would be a home run,” he said.
Gibellina noted that workforce transportation could be disrupted by bad weather and he said some employees who use the water taxis will still need ground transport to their workplaces. He also suggested starting the water taxi service earlier in the morning to better accommodate workforce transportation needs.
Commission comments
In response to Gibellina’s comments, Commissioner Misty Servia said, “I’m sure the design is something that will be carefully considered by the staff.”
She then said, “I would like to see our employers on the Island give passes to their employees – not the county subsidizing it, but the employers on the Island who can do that as a benefit for their employees.”
Commissioner Carol Whitmore noted the City Pier in Anna Maria does not have safety rails in the area proposed for use as a water taxi landing area. The majority of the floating dock in Bradenton Beach does not feature safety rails either. Whitmore asked who would be responsible for any safety improvements needed at the city-owned docking facilities.
“We’ve already gone to all the stopping points. You’re going to have to have ADA compliance,” Falcione said. “You’re going to have to have some floating docks. The Bridge Street Pier is almost there, if not there. The Anna Maria pier’s going to have to get some modifications. The day dock in downtown Bradenton, a little bit.” Falcione previously stated that any water taxi-related improvements made to the city-owned docking facilities would be done at the county’s expense.
During Thursday’s meeting, Falcione acknowledged the potential for weather-related service disruptions.
“Coming out of the Manatee River, that bulkhead gets a little windy sometimes, so there’s going to be times that we’re not going to be able to run the shuttles. That’s why we have an expert with a lot of experience doing business in Florida that can help us,” he said.
“The backup will be our MCAT (bus) service,” Hopes added.
