An edition of: WaterAtlas.orgPresented By: USF Water Institute

Water-Related News

A plan for a ferry service between MacDill Air Force Base and South Hillsborough might be dead soon

Hillsborough County commissioners were critical of the project after hearing an update.

A proposal to reduce traffic congestion in Hillsborough County by creating a passenger ferry between MacDill Air Force Base and South Hillsborough might be getting shut down soon.

Hillsborough County commissioners were critical of the project after hearing an update Wednesday.

The project was initially proposed a decade ago, with the county paying between $35 million and $40 million for the ferry service. Now, estimated costs are around $75 million due to expansion of the project and rising costs.

The new price tag raised the ire of many commissioners, like Gwen Myers. She says county voters killing last year's proposed 1% transportation sales tax really tightened the budget for projects like the ferry.

"When the 1% sales tax was voted down by the taxpayers, this project went down with it because that was included — this particular project was included. The county doesn't have the funding," Myers said.

How to fund the ferry

In its current structure, Hillsborough County would pay the upfront costs of the construction for the ferries, with HMS Ferries covering the operating and maintenance costs over the first 20 years of the service.

Commissioner Joshua Wostal questioned the high risk he feels the county is taking, while HMS Ferries is reaping the benefits.

“I just have too many concerns going forward,” Wostal said.

He followed that by successfully making to bring the topic up again in August with the potential of killing it.