It's still a few years from becoming a reality, but Hillsborough County Commissioners are moving full-speed ahead on ferry service between south Hillsborough and MacDill Air Force Base.
By a 6-1 vote, commissioners have OK'd funding for preliminary engineering and planning work. A survey says 90% of military members living in south Hillsborough would use the ferry, and Commissioner Mariella Smith says she thinks retirees in places like Sun City Center will take advantage of it as well. "When you get to a certain age," Smith said, "you're as not as ready or willing to drive around long distances in the dark--driving over the Skyway--driving around downtown at night is really off-putting."
Commissioner Ken Hagan was the only "no" vote. "I firmly believe this commuter ferry is not a transit project. It will be a financial boondoggle that will remove very few vehicles from the road."
Plans call for the county to buy the vessels and build a terminal and dock on land now owned by the Mosaic Company. The service could be up and running by June of 2025.
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