Strong start for Gulf Islands Ferry leads to service expansion

The Gulf Islands Ferry debuted in January and, after a strong start, the service has already expanded its days of operation. There are more plans in the works, too, according to Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione. 

“We saw demand right out of the gate,” Falcione said. 

Riders range from residents to visitors, and the demand comes in many different forms. 

“I think from a local standpoint, it was intrigue more than anything,” Falcione said. “Many of us residents have never been on the Manatee River heading out to Anna Maria Island. So right there and then we've had that pent-up demand.”

For visitors, the ferry can be a way to avoid traffic or experience a different mode of transportation. 

Falcione estimated that ferry ridership is at about 375 passengers on a full day with good weather. That could mean about 150-160 cars off the road, he added. 

The service is weather-dependent. There are some days where passengers may experience some windy conditions or some sea spray — for that, Falcione said he’s working on getting branded ponchos to give to riders. 

“We want to make sure the experience is pleasurable for all the riders,” Falcione said. 

At launch, the service was running Friday through Sunday. Two ferries — the Downtown Duchess and the Miss Anna Maria — each with two crew members currently run the operation.

It’s also important to note that all the funding for the service is subsidized by the tourism tax, according to Falcione. 

After seeing the demand, Falcione said the next step was to build up staff and crew, which ultimately led to Thursdays being added to the schedule. 

Most recently, Wednesdays were tacked onto the schedule. The ferry now runs Wednesday through Sunday, which Falcione said is probably the schedule for the rest of this season. 

Next year, it may be a different story. 

“The objective, starting February of next year, we may be running seven days a week,” Falcione said. 

Included in that expansion goal is to operate year-round at that capacity, which will be especially important during busy holidays like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. 

Apart from adding days to the schedule, Falcione hopes to add vessels to the service’s fleet. 

He’s begun conversations to purchase a covered water ferry, which would also be a little faster. With a covered vessel, it would be less likely that the service would be suspended due to weather. 

This faster vessel would most likely only take people between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. Then, the other ferries could be used to move people between the islands, per his plan. 

Falcione wants to get that vessel ordered soon, pending board approval. 

More stops are also in the works for the ferry service. 

Talks have begun with the city of Palmetto to bring the ferry service to the Bradenton Area Convention Center, according to Falcione. He said he hopes that will happen by the end of 2024 or early 2025. 

Another stop soon will be on Coquina Beach. 

“You know, it’s one step at a time,” Falcione said. “We learn something new every day. I’m excited to see where we’re at this time next year.” 

Falcione also mentioned that a Longboat Key stop is on his list of objectives. 

Possibility on the Key

According to Falcione, recent conversations with the town of Longboat Key have focused on the town boat ramp at Linley Street. 

He said there weren’t many other options on Longboat Key. Plus the proximity to Mar Vista and Shore would make it an ideal destination for tourists looking for a place to eat. 

Town Manager Howard Tipton confirmed that those conversations were focused on that location. The timing is also ideal, he said, because the town is looking into a project to revamp the dock. 

It would depend on how the ferry would navigate into that area, but conceptually, Tipton said the stop may be a possibility. 

Aside from bringing people to the popular restaurants, Tipton said having a ferry as a mode of transportation could help employees who work on Longboat Key. 

“We know transportation is a challenge, we know traffic is a headache,” Tipton said. “We would love to explore that with them as part of the economic development side.” 

Tipton said it’s challenging to find a good spot for the ferry on the island. Bayfront Park, for example, would be difficult to navigate, and then there isn’t much to do around there, he said. 

So far, the stop at the town boat ramp was a part of a preliminary conversation, according to Tipton. The topic is also planned to be discussed at the town’s April 30 joint meeting with Manatee County. 

“We’re interested in exploring those conversations, and see where that might go,” Tipton said. “Anything that helps take cars off the road, we’re willing to look at.”