Tampa Bay Ferry Service Gets Final Approval From Transit Officials

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority Board of Directors picked Hubbard's Marina as the new operator for the Tampa Bay Ferry on Wednesday. Every director voted yes. This vote was the last approval needed to start the service linking Tampa and St. Petersburg.

The board also approved buying a vessel discovered in the San Francisco area. Tests must be completed first. The Federal Transit Administration must also give its approval before the purchase can happen. This ferry will carry 250 passengers across Tampa Bay once it starts running, which is far more than the previous boat's capacity of 149 passengers.

"If this new vessel gets all the appropriate approvals, this will give us the opportunity to deliver a sustainable, convenient, and reliable transportation option on a quicker timeline," Brad Miller, CEO of the PSTA, said in a statement, per WTSP.

Hubbard's Marina is a family-owned business that started in 1928. The company created Tampa Bay Sea Taxi, Inc. to handle vessel management, staffing, safety, and daily operations for the new service.

The PSTA's agreement with the company is a five-year operating contract with an option to extend for five more years. Tara Hubbard with Hubbard's Marina said earlier that the goal is to have the ferry running by next summer, but several factors could affect when this happens.

The new service is meant to offer year-round operation instead of the short seasonal runs seen in past years. The Cross Bay Ferry took its final ride seven months ago across Tampa Bay.

"We're excited about the next steps: right boat, right docks, right process. For the right boat, the best option for long-term success could be the slowest: ordering one or more new boats," PSTA Chair Figgs-Sanders said. "For the right docks, long-term success hinges on the right locations, which may require permitting and construction. And, for the right process, we'll create long-term repeat customers by hiring an exceptional crew and making trips seamless."

The transit authority is working on a plan to secure a dock in St. Pete's North Yacht Basin, where the old Cross Bay Ferry docked before it moved south to Port St. Pete. The plan for Tampa is to use the same spot behind the Tampa Convention Center where the old ferry docked.

"To do this right, each step will take time. We're designing a new service that's sustainable, not restarting an old one that struggled to pay its bills," Figgs-Sanders added.