Anna Maria Sinks Plans for New Ferry Pier, Focuses on Rebuilding Damaged Walkway
Plans for a new ferry landing in Anna Maria have been shelved as city commissioners opted to prioritize rebuilding the existing pier walkway, which was damaged by Hurricane Milton in 2024.
During a meeting on May 27, commissioners reached a consensus not to pursue the construction of a new pier north of the current city pier near the Lake La Vista inlet. The discussion followed months of debate over how to accommodate the growing Gulf Islands Ferry (GIF) service, which currently operates on Thursdays through Sundays between downtown Bradenton and the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach.
The ferry formerly stopped at the Anna Maria City Pier, but service was suspended after the storm destroyed the walkway. While plans are underway to rebuild it, the new construction must follow the original footprint and won’t support the larger, enclosed ferry vessel set to join the fleet this summer.
Faced with limitations, the county considered alternatives: attaching a new ferry landing to the rebuilt city pier or constructing a completely new structure nearby. Commissioners, however, rejected both ideas for the time being.
Several members of the commission expressed interest in adding a landing to the existing pier as a more cost-effective solution. Still, concerns about traffic, safety, and the strain on surrounding infrastructure remained unresolved.
Ultimately, the board agreed that rebuilding the city pier walkway should take precedence. Mayor Mark Short noted that while the county has explored options, it has not committed funds to help rebuild the damaged pier — in part, he said, because the city hasn’t submitted a formal funding request.
Short emphasized the city’s immediate priority: restoring the iconic pier.