The Cross Bay Ferry, providing service between Tampa and St. Petersburg, is slated to cease operations on April 30, earlier than the initially scheduled end date, amid contract disputes and unmet service requirements. WFLA reports that the service operator HMS defaulted on its agreement with Hillsborough County, leading to the premature end of ferry services.
According to Tampa Bay Times, HMS was put on notice after proposing a slower ferry that doubled travel time from one hour to two, a move that did not comply with the county's requirement for a high-speed ferry, in the context of a contract that has been active since 2021, causing the Hillsborough County to declare HMS in default. The St. Petersburg City Council learned from a city memo that Hillsborough intends to recommend canceling the contract at a commission meeting scheduled for April 16.
Given the service's upcoming termination, St. Petersburg and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) are exploring alternative solutions to revive ferry services, possibly by this fall, with the city potentially saving $102,000 due to the early service cessation even though prolonged service was apparently preferred. As FOX 13 News reports, PSTA is considering taking over operations and is in discussions about utilizing a nearly $5 million federal grant held by Hillsborough County, which has yet to decide on whether to support this initiative.
Amidst the end of this current ferry season, there's been a recognition of its role in connecting the two cities; HMS Ferries said in a statement, obtained by FOX 13 News, "We're proud of the role the ferry has played in connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg," and despite the ending of this chapter, HMS remains "excited to see Hillsborough County, the City of St. Petersburg, and PSTA continue shaping the future of ferry transportation in the region."
