After boat crash, what’s next for the Clearwater Ferry?

Local leaders were brimming with optimism for the Clearwater Ferry in February. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority had recently taken over the service, and already, more people were riding the ferry compared to before the pandemic .Two months later, a Palm Harbor man died and 10 more were injured after Jannus Live owner Jeff Knight’s boat crashed into the back of the ferry, tarnishing the service’s safety record. Service has been temporarily suspended but is scheduled to return on Thursday, May 8, said Amanda Baird, a spokesperson for the Pinellas transit agency.Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott, who sits on the transit board, said he wants the service to stick around as a desperately-needed solution to traffic jams on Clearwater’s Memorial Causeway. The ferry operates two more boats in addition to the one involved in the crash. “We’re still recovering from these storms, and just to have that option out there is really important,” he said.If riders who were on the ferry sue, the private operator carries its own insurance to pay out claims, Baird said. Trisha Rodriguez, a Clearwater resident who owns and staffs the ferry, declined to comment for this story, citing the ongoing investigation into the crash.Jose Castro’s death on the ferry is accompanied by an even harsher reality, said Whit Blanton, director of Forward Pinellas, a transportation planning agency. Forward Pinellas prioritizes funds for road and transit projects, while the Pinellas transit authority oversees bus and Clearwater Ferry operations within the county. Every day two people on average die in crashes on Pinellas County roads, Blanton said.“We have fiery crashes, horrific crashes that shut down the interstate, that shut down U.S. 19,” he said. “And yet we just sort of accept that and move on. We’ve become really numb or just not moved by the number of crashes and serious injuries and fatalities that we have on our roadways.”About 14 people die in car crashes for every 100,000 registered vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In Florida, that number is almost 18.For every 100,000 registered boats, around five die in boat crashes, according to the United States Coast Guard.Still, when high-profile incidents happen on comparatively safe modes of travel, data suggests some members of the public stay away. After a plane crash killed 67 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January, around 120,000 fewer people flew through the airport the following month.Blanton thinks that in time, people will return to the Clearwater Ferry, especially as road traffic remains high. Max McCann, a citizen appointee to the Pinellas transit board, said Sunday’s crash is a sign no mode of travel is completely safe. But the more options available to Pinellas residents and tourists, the safer they’ll be, he said.“For anyone concerned about safety, I urge them to remember that, mile per mile, public transportation is safer than private vehicle travel,” he said.The Clearwater Ferry has safety mechanisms in place that protect riders: a professional driver and Coast Guard oversight, Blanton said. But all those features can’t fully guard the service from “random acts of ignorance” like what happened Sunday night, he said.So far, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigators have not released findings showing the ferry boat captain to be at fault. A lawyer for Knight, the man accused of crashing into the ferry, suggested the collision occurred because the ferry didn’t have proper lighting and its crew was distracted by dolphins .The Clearwater Ferry is operated by a private company. But since January, it’s been overseen by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, which has its logo on the boats.In August, the agency board approved a three-year contract with the ferry service for $2.3 million. The city of Clearwater helps fund the service, and Dunedin is set to provide funds once its dock is repaired after last year’s hurricanes.The state also pays for the service. A $655,000 state grant will help fund operations for the next three years. The state gave an additional $1 million to purchase new boats.The ferry now runs from downtown Clearwater to the Clearwater Beach Marina on Thursday through Sunday, every half hour for most of the day. Before the takeover, the ferry only operated on a reservation-based model .It has long been considered popular, thanks to its $4 fare and proximity to breweries, shops and restaurants.For about 16 years, Tyler DeHaven has worked at and managed The Bait House Tackle and Tavern — located about 25 yards from the ferry’s Clearwater Beach stop. He said the service has had a major impact clearing traffic congestion. He recommends it to people all the time.“The parking down here is a disaster,” he said. “Any way I can convince someone to not drive is good for me and for my business.”Jay Witting, a manager at Salty’s Island Bar and Grill, said the service has a positive reputation for being fun and low-cost. When he lived near downtown Clearwater, he’d use it often to commute to and from work.“I’ve seen it being used a lot,” Witting said. “I like it. I’ve always liked it.”Witting sees the ferry as helpful to businesses in downtown Clearwater and to tourists navigating to beach hotels. In the past, there have also been deals for hospitality sector employees using the service, he said.The crash could increase skepticism for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s effort to take over another boat transit service: the Cross Bay Ferry .Hillsborough County transit officials will decide whether to transfer to Pinellas a nearly $5 million grant to purchase a vessel that could cross Tampa Bay and decrease costs for the service. Their vote on the grant has been delayed at the urging of Hillsborough Commissioner Josh Wostal.Wostal has said he’s hesitant to transfer a new liability to Pinellas taxpayers.“I’m very sad about the situation,” Wostal said in an interview Thursday. “I hope we don’t continue down this road of risk.”Sunday’s crash demonstrates that waterborne transit, like all modes, carries a risk of fatal crashes on board. Pinellas buses, in comparison, have critically injured a pedestrian and killed a scooter rider in recent years, but riders and workers rarely die on public transit, according to national transportation statistics .Scott, the Pinellas commissioner, said he’s more concerned about the potential financial waste of owning a boat compared to safety concerns presented by the Clearwater Ferry crash. He described the cross-bay service as “transportainment,” while the Clearwater Ferry can help hospitality workers on the beaches get to their jobs.That 45 people were on board the Clearwater Ferry during the crash is tragic as well as promising, Blanton said.“I think demand will (continue to) be there because it is so difficult to get over to the beach,” he said. “We’re very confident that it will return to the success it’s enjoyed.”

After boat crash, what’s next for the Clearwater Ferry?

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