A plan for a high speed ferry in connecting MacDill Air Force Base, South Hillsborough County, and other Tampa Bay area destinations has been gaining momentum as the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization voted in favor of moving forward with it earlier this week, the Tampa Bay Business Journal reports.
This means the organization will now submit a letter to the Florida Department of Transportation endorsing the project as part of its Long Range Transportation plan. A letter might not seem like much when it comes to a project of this scale, but according to the Tampa Tribune, it now allows the county to negotiate with the ferry operator and could help attract state funding it wouldn't have gotten before.
The initial plans call for the high-speed ferry - operated by HMS Ferries - to connect MacDill Air Force Base and South Hillsborough County during the week with additional service to areas like Downtown Tampa and St. Pete over the weekends.
It will cost an estimated $18 million for the ferries, main terminal, and additional docks, a price - in addition to $3.5 million in yearly operating costs - the MPO can now negotiate more specifically with HMS Ferries.
We'll keep you updated as more news arises regarding the future of a potential high-speed ferry in Tampa Bay.
