Agencies taking latest steps to bring back rebranded ‘Tampa Bay Ferry’ service

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The latest step in the return of the ferry service connecting downtown St. Petersburg and Downtown Tampa happened Wednesday, as the PSTA Board of Directors unanimously approved the new plans. 

A ferry that crosses Tampa Bay is expected to replace the former “Cross Bay Ferry” service, which ended operations in April. It’s not clear what the new, rebranded name will be. PSTA is currently using “Tampa Bay Ferry” as a placeholder.

In November, both the city of St. Pete and the city of Tampa voted on their part of an agreement that would secure a new cross bay ferry service, with each city giving its approval. The interlocal agreement included adding up to $350,000 a year in funding for the new ferry. 

Under the agreement, PSTA would oversee ferry operations. Pinellas County’s public transit provider is using part of a $4.8 million federal grant to buy at least one boat that would be used for the new ferry service.

“Every mode has its start, I don’t know why exactly it hasn’t built up until now,” said Brandon Campbell, the Interim Mobility Director for the city of Tampa. “I think we have good partners in place now to make this a success.” 

The Cross Bay Ferry service was terminated in April after the previous operator, HMS Ferries, wanted to swap out the ferry with a slower boat. That boat would’ve taken twice as long to cross the bay, which violated their agreement with Hillsborough County.

Hillsborough County commissioners then terminated the agreement with HMS Ferries in mid-April.

Supporters of the new plan say it is much more financially stable than the last. 

“Of course you have financial concerns, and all of those were addressed,” said St. Pete City Council member Deborah Figgs-Sanders. “PSTA did everything they needed to do to accommodate those concerns as well and we’re going to do everything to ensure that this project is more successful than the one before.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation earlier approved a transfer of a nearly $5 million grant from the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.

The PSTA Board of Directors voted Wednesday on approving Hubbard’s Ferry as the operator of the new ferry service. Captain Dylan Hubbard’s family owns Hubbard’s Ferry, a Pinellas County staple that has operated passenger boats and fishing tours for decades in Madeira Beach.

A yes vote from the PSTA cements a five-year contract with the option to extend the service for another five years.

The new Tampa Bay Ferry could be up and running by spring/summer 2026.