The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) Board of Directors has unanimously approved a plan to purchase and renovate two vessels for use on the proposed Tampa Bay Ferry Service.
Using a 4.8 million USD federal grant; the PSTA is leading development of the new ferry, which will aim to offer improved service, lower costs and more long-term stability than the previous Cross-Bay Ferry, which ceased operation in 2025.
Operating with one boat, the Cross-Bay Ferry was unable to run seven days a week. With the newly proposed Tampa Bay Ferry Service, two vessels will operate across the week, increasing capacity and providing more options for local residents and visitors.
The PSTA has announced that it has now opted to choose the two vessels from a current list of three possible options, all of which were identified in a nationwide search that led the Authority’s ferry operator, Hubbard’s Marina, to source potential boats in Seattle, San Francisco, and western Louisiana.
Options for vessels include the Bay Breeze (San Francisco, CA), San Juan Clipper (Seattle, WA) & Candy Stripe (Morgan City, LA), which will cost 2.5 million USD, 2 million USD or 2.3 million USD to purchase and renovate, respectively. Each option also comes with its own expectations with regards to renovation time post-purchase, with the Bay Breeze & San Juan Clipper estimated at 3-6 months and the Candy Stripe estimated at 12-18 months.
In addition to the vessels, the PSTA has also shared new details on the service:
- PSTA is targeting a one-way ticket price of 10 USD, which is less expensive than the Cross-Bay Ferry
- The two chosen boats will have to be fully renovated and include a bar on board with snacks, kid-friendly drinks, and adult beverages
- The service will launch as soon as the vessels are retrofitted, tested, and delivered to Tampa Bay
PSTA CEO Brad Miller said:We’re committed to creating this service the right way, so it’s sustainable for the long term.
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.
