Opinion
Welcome back to OnThePoint, I’m Greg C. Truax.
The Cross Bay Ferry is a pleasant ride across Tampa Bay. It’s great for tourists, a night downtown or a trip to a ballgame. But let’s be honest: it’s not a meaningful transportation solution.
While commuters sit in traffic and drive on pothole-filled roads, taxpayers continue subsidizing the ferry. Tampa and St. Petersburg each contribute $350,000 a year from taxpayers, on top of about $4 million from federal taxpayers.
Consider the numbers. Roughly 350,000 vehicles cross Tampa Bay’s major bridges every day. The ferry is expected to carry about 100,000 passengers in an entire year.
Nice ride? Absolutely. Transportation priority? Not even close.
From the NewsTalk 1040 studios, I’m Greg C. Truax.
Greg C. Truax is president of GCTMediaGroup, a film production studio, online magazine publisher, radio commentator, and creator of written and broadcast opinion commentary.