BRADENTON, Fla. — The Gulf Islands Ferry will be offering free ridership for Anna Maria Island locals and workers in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, according to a news release from the Manatee County Government.
That free ridership is starting this Friday, Nov. 1, officials said.
Service is slated to run Thursday through Sunday with boats departing from the Riverwalk Pier at 7:30 a.m. Those boats will reportedly continue once an hour until 6:30 p.m. Meanwhile, on Anna Maria Island, service will start at 10 a.m. and end at 9 p.m. with boats leaving on the tour.
"Now that safe routes and docking points have been confirmed, the Manatee Board of County Commissioners are recommitting our resources to our community with free service for displaced residents and workers,” Executive Director of the Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau Elliott Falcione stated.
Falcione added that the bureau wants the service to be of use to the barrier island community "during this time of need."
More information on the ferry service and its schedule can be found here. Those interested can also check out the Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau's official website.