ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — People getting ready to board the Cross Bay Ferry headed for Tampa Wednesday afternoon said they were disappointed to learn service will end five months early.

It comes after Hillsborough County commissioners voted to end a contract with the ferry's operator, which officials say defaulted on the agreement.

What You Need To Know

  •  Passengers boarding the Cross Bay Ferry in St. Petersburg said they were disappointed by the news service will end April 30

  •  Avoiding traffic and getting out on the water were among the benefits they highlighted

  •  Commissioner Harry Cohen said the ferry pilot program laid the groundwork for looking at waterways as a mode of transit

  • Read previous coverage here

"I was sad to hear that it was going to be no more, and that's why we're here right now — to take one last ride before it closes," said Michelle Hamm, who lives part time in Tampa Bay.

Hamm and Mark Toffolo said they've made the trip across the bay several times.

"It's just a really nice way to go," Toffolo said. "You're out on the water, and it probably takes you the same amount of time to drive with no traffic for a Lightning game, for example, than it does to take the ferry."

"It's so quintessential Florida," said Hamm. "It's just a Floridian way of getting somewhere and not having to get in the car and battle traffic."

Hamm and Toffolo's friend, Tracy McCollum, was making her first ferry trip with them during a visit from Illinois.

"I think something like this would be a great addition to any city that has it. What's nice is, I mean, I'm used to Tampa — crazy busy," said McCollum. "To come here, where they live, and not have to deal with the traffic and get over to Tampa is a great way to do it."

Commissioner Harry Cohen said the unanimous vote to end the contract didn't come as a surprise. He said the ferry's operator, HMS Ferries, wanted to swap out the vessels used for the ferry trips, which would double the travel time to two hours. 

"I think this was something that was popular with the public, but it really didn't emerge as a true alternative for commuting, for avoiding the traffic on the bridges and getting across the bay," Cohen said.

Cohen said he believes talks are in the works within transportation groups about a ferry service. If a new plan does emerge, he said the county doesn't want to run it but may be open to a private operator. He told Spectrum News there were lessons learned from this pilot program.

"It laid the groundwork for the fact that we do need to look at our waterways as a mode of transit. There's no right of way cost to taking people over the water. At some point, this is going to be a very viable way to move people around," said Cohen.

The commissioner said he thinks that information will help any group that may step forward to revive the ferry, which he does think will happen at some point.