The Gulf Islands Ferry expanded its route on Tuesday with a new stop at Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island. County tourism officials are celebrating the move as a way to cut down on car traffic, reporting 300 to 350 passengers daily during the off-season. The ferry now connects three stops: the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier, Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach, and Coquina Beach.
But not everyone is cheering. Charter boat captains who run their businesses out of the Coquina boat ramp say the new ferry traffic is mixing with already tricky conditions. Captain Katie Tupin, who has operated from that ramp for four years, says the combination of winds, tides, and ferry wake could create dangerous crowding. She worries the county has not thought through how these two very different types of boats will share the same water.
County tourism officials say the ferry landing is ADA compliant and was thoroughly vetted. Commissioner Tal Siddique acknowledged that every ferry stop has come with a learning curve, and the county plans to use passenger feedback to improve the service. The county is also working with FDOT on pedestrian crosswalks from the boat ramp to the beach. What do you think? Are you comfortable with the ferry sharing space with charter boats, or should the county pump the brakes? Let us know in the comments.
