ANNA MARIA – The city commission has approved an interlocal agreement that allows Manatee County to use the City Pier as a Gulf Island Ferry stop.
The unanimous approval granted on Sept. 21 ends a lengthy negotiation process that included the mayor and city commissioners recently rejecting the county’s request to make $300,000 in modifications to the City Pier. The rejected modifications included a floating perpendicular dock and a gated, exclusive ferry landing area at the existing boat landing at the T-end of the pier.
The county previously entered into an interlocal agreement with the city of Bradenton Beach to use the Bradenton Beach Pier as a ferry stop. The county also entered into an interlocal agreement with the city of Bradenton to use the Riverwalk Day Dock as a ferry stop.
On Thursday, the Anna Maria City Commission approved the county’s request to attach two composite bumper pilings to the existing boat landing. Mayor Dan Murphy said pilings will be attached to the existing landing area but will not extend downward into the state-owned submerged land below the Tampa Bay waters. Murphy noted driving pilings into the state-owned land would require approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Murphy said the piling installation will cost the county about $10,000. The city will pay for the ongoing maintenance of the pilings. If the city decides later to opt out of the interlocal agreement, the city must reimburse the county for the initial piling installation expenditure.
Ramps carried on the ferries will provide pier access for arriving and departing passengers. Other boats docked at the public landing area must yield to arriving ferries.
Commissioner Charlie Salem thanked Murphy for the time and effort he put into the interlocal agreement negotiations that ultimately saved the county and its taxpayers $290,000.
Expected to begin service at some point this year, the Gulf Island Ferry service between downtown Bradenton, Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach will initially operate on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The fare will be $8 for a one-way trip, $5 for children making a one-way trip and $6 for seniors making a one-way trip.
Commissioner Jon Crane doesn’t expect the limited ferry service to have much impact on reducing automobile traffic and congestion to and from the Island. Nor does he expect the ferry service to be heavily utilized by employees who commute to the Island for work. Crane said he hopes the city and the county have ongoing conversations about increasing and expanding the limited ferry service.
Murphy agreed and said the initial offering is at least a starting point that hopefully leads to increased service and a greater emphasis being placed on transporting Island employees.
