Opinion: Attacking Transit In Tampa Bay Is A Fool's Errand

Today the Tampa Bay Times decided to publish an editorial piece attacking transit options in Tampa including the Downtowner, St. Petersburg Bike Share, and Cross-Bay Ferry. St. Petersburg Mayor, Rick Kriseman, commented via Twitter on the piece:

Not only is this editorial piece reckless, it is also a fool's errand. There is almost nothing in common between the Downtowner, which shuffles around people in Downtown Tampa, and the Cross-Bay Ferry which boldly carries people across Downtown Tampa and Downtown St. Pete, connecting two major hubs that desperately need transit solutions.

Is the Cross-Bay Ferry perfect? No. However, it represents a commitment on both sides to bring solutions to our bay area and is becoming increasingly popular with frequently sold out rides between the two cities. It is boosting tourism between Downtown Tampa and Downtown St. Petersburg and providing a much needed relief from driving literally everywhere in Tampa and using the water in front of us to our advantage.

It my sincere hope that in the future there will be a bigger commitment to the Cross-Bay Ferry and that more people will eventually choose to stop sitting in one to three hours of traffic and decide instead to cross our bay on a boat. Rome was not built in a day though.

Instead of attacking the current options that leaders in Tampa and St. Petersburg are offering in a snippy editorial, the Tampa Bay Times should investigate solutions, interview leaders, and provide recommendations for how they can improve. Use your power and audience to help make a difference and actually serve the interests of the people. Thank you.

Find more information about the Cross-Bay Ferry at thecrossbayferry.com.

Here is a previous article I did on the Cross-Bay Ferry: https://carloseats.com/2019/03/22/riding-the-cross-bay-ferry-from-tampa-to-st-petersburg/

Follow Carlos Hernandez on Twitter @CarlosEats or visit him at CarlosEats.com