Tampa and St. Petersburg Approve $350,000 Annual Funding Each for Year-Round Ferry Service

Tampa and St. Petersburg city councils approved a five-year agreement Thursday. Each city commits up to $350,000 per year to fund a year-round ferry that connects both cities. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will oversee the service now called the Tampa Bay Ferry.

St. Petersburg City Council passed the measure with a unanimous vote. Tampa Council approved it with one dissenting vote from Council Member Charlie Miranda.

"I'd rather spend my money on the Heartline and having the people that really need to travel to go to work from A to B, not to be on the waterways having fun," said Miranda, according to Fox 13 News.

The agreement also includes a $44,000 transfer from Tampa's general fund to cover startup costs. Tampa's Transportation and Parking Division will handle those expenses.

"This is the future of transportation in Tampa Bay," said Tampa City Council member Chris Clendenin per WTSP, moments after the motion passed.

The previous Cross Bay Ferry ended operations in April. A contract issue with its vendor caused the shutdown. PSTA took over management afterward.

Research presented to the St. Petersburg City Council showed that nearly 90% of past ferry riders were locals. Tourists made up the rest. The data suggests residents want to use the service for commutes and recreation.

"This is more than just a tourist attraction," said St. Pete Council member Gina Driscoll, according to WTSP. "The way you have this set up now — it's going to be thought of as a practical way to get through the day."

St. Pete Council member Copley Gerdes described the investment as a step toward better regional connections. Council member Guido Maniscalco from Tampa called it "another tool in the toolbox for getting traffic off the streets, cars off the road, and connecting communities," according to WTSP.

PSTA will use an almost $5 million Federal Transit Administration grant to buy or build one or two boats. The agency will own the vessels, which officials say will help reduce operating costs.

"With the service being run by PSTA, working with a local contractor, PSTA owning the boats, we're able to deliver better service, drive down the cost," said Rice, according to Fox 13 News.

PSTA chose Hubbard's Marina to operate the ferry service on a preliminary basis. The company has nearly 100 years of history in the area.

"The fact that the region was able to get this grant to procure vessels to make it a little bit more feasible for a local operator, that's what's really exciting for us to really take this into the next chapter and our big vision is really to make more of a waterborne transit network effect throughout the region and make this a viable transit option for our community," said Tara Hubbard, the co-owner Hubbard's Marina, according to Fox 13 News.

The PSTA Board will vote on the operator contract on Dec. 3. Approval would clear the way for the project to move forward.

Officials aim to launch the service by spring 2026 or shortly after. Details like the ferry schedule are still being worked out. Leaders confirmed the service will run year-round.