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Starting this week, the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization will bring forward a proposal for ferry service to MacDill Air Force Base from Gibsonton for public consideration. Following a vote from the MPO board, it would be up to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to approve service.
The route was selected from several options that included linking Apollo Beach, the Channel District, Oldsmar/Safety Harbor, downtown St. Petersburg and Westshore. The advantages of the Gibsonton-MacDill route are numerous:
- Existing docks at MacDill and Williams Park in Gibsonton.
- A clear transportation advantage over the current alternative. (6.33 mile water trip versus a 20 to 27 mile car trip on US 41 or Interstate 75. Estimates of a $5 ferry trip show a time savings of about 10 minutes and cost savings of about $10 per week, tolls included.)
- A captive market of riders. (Nearly 8,000 MacDill employees live in the area served by the Gibsonton docks. About 5,600 of those employees commute daily, the remainder are on deployment or leave.)
Opponents conveniently ignore the massive transit ridership numbers by military service members, especially from Eastern Hillsborough County to MacDill. HART’s bare bones service to the FishHawk area is breaking records, in part due to the MacDill employees using HART’s commuter services. Opponents would rather our fighting men and women sit in traffic, instead of working on base to defend our country. Opponents will also probably ignore the overwhelming support for MacDill service expressed by base employees. 
Ferry service between Gibsonton and MacDill answers the ultimate question of transit service: is it necessary? Without a complete transit system, Hillsborough County needs a water-borne shortcut. As for necessary, this route would likely serve service members exclusively. It’s necessary for our national defense. Transit is so valued by the Department of Defense that military and civilian employees are eligible to receive payment for their fares.
Realistically, MacDill ferry service might be more than a year away. Bids have to be put out to operators and Williams Park needs to be upgraded into an acceptable station. And that’s if the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners decides that ferry service to MacDill is a necessary investment for one of Tampa Bay’s most important resources.
Two weeks ago, we wrote about a call to action in regards to attracting and retaining young professionals in Tampa Bay. Ferry service to MacDill inspires another. You may never ride a boat to MacDill, but your community will benefit. Ferry service doesn’t just take cars off the road, it improves the quality of life for our fighting men and women. Maybe this will be the first leg of a network of ferries, but that is several years away.
In the meantime, stick with Tampa Bay On Track as we follow this issue. And contact your Hillsborough County Commissioners. Here is their contact information. Let them know we need ferry service to MacDill Air Force Base.
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