PSTA Advances Tampa Bay Ferry Plan To Buy, Renovate 2 Boats

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority board unanimously approved a plan to purchase and renovate two boats for the Tampa Bay Ferry service using a $4.8 million federal grant, moving the project closer to launch, the agency said in a news release.

The two-boat system will offer a daily ferry service between downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa, where a dock is planned near the Tampa Convention Center. PSTA is targeting a one-way ticket price of $10.

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The agency is leading the development of the new ferry, which is intended to provide improved service, lower costs and more long-term stability than the Cross-Bay Ferry, which shut down last year.

The previous Cross-Bay Ferry operated with only one boat, which prevented it from running seven days a week, PSTA said.

The two vessels for the new service will be chosen from three options identified in a nationwide search by Hubbard's Marina, PSTA's ferry operator, which found possible boats in Seattle, San Francisco and western Louisiana.

• Also Read: Tampa Bay Ferry Plan Names Tampa Dock, Seeks Two Boats For Daily Service: PSTA

The two chosen boats will need full renovations and will include a bar on board with snacks, kid-friendly drinks and adult beverages, PSTA said.

The identified boat options are:

• the Bay Breeze in San Francisco, California, with a total purchase and renovation cost of $2.5 million and a renovation timeline of three to six months after purchase,
• the San Juan Clipper in Seattle, Washington, at $2 million with a three- to six-month timeline, and
• the Candy Stripe in Morgan City, Louisiana, at $2.3 million with a 12- to 18-month timeline.

The service will launch after the vessels are retrofitted, tested and delivered to Tampa Bay.

“We’re committed to creating this service the right way, so it’s sustainable for the long term,” PSTA CEO Brad Miller said.

“That’s why everyone should be impressed by the effort of the Hubbard’s Marina team, working with our staff, to maximize taxpayer dollars and get two boats with this one federal grant.”

No launch date has been confirmed. Before service begins, the agency and its operator still must inspect, negotiate for and buy the boats, complete renovations that could include new interiors, engine replacements or other updates, and transport each vessel to Tampa Bay on a larger ship.

“I’m proud of our continued commitment to expanding regional mobility and investing in innovative transportation options that serve our communities," Deborah Figgs-Sanders, PSTA chair and St. Petersburg City Council member, said. "For residents of St. Petersburg, this creates a reliable, stress-free alternative to sitting in traffic, offering a more enjoyable and predictable way to travel.”