In a definitive move to rejuvenate the public transit landscape, the Tampa City Council has nodded affirmatively regarding the future operations of a proposed ferry service, thus linking Tampa to St. Petersburg. This agreement, supported by both the City of Tampa and the City of St. Petersburg, involves each city putting up to $350,000 annually from their Mobility Department budgets to back the ferry's operations. "Our waterways are among our greatest regional assets and using them as another option for commuters just makes sense," said Tampa City Council Chairman Alan Clendenin in a statement obtained by Tampa government's news release. According to the plan, this service is poised to offer residents and tourists a more sustainable form of transit, simultaneously working to decongest roads and alleviate parking frustrations.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) rapidly moved to fill the gap left by the previous operator, HMS Ferries Inc., whose contract with the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) and Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners concluded abruptly. HMS Ferries Inc. had controversially proposed a vessel change that would've dramatically increased travel time. Recovering from this setback, PSTA accepted a transfer of a nearly $5 million federal grant from HART to procure new crafts better suited to fulfil the region's needs. This swift action aims to, once again, seamlessly connect the two vibrant cities across the bay.
Choosing the right ferry operator was crucial in the process, and after sifting through various proposals, the PSTA put forth Hubbard’s Marina, touted as a tried-and-true family-owned local business, to act as the new ferry operator. "Bringing back a ferry service between our two amazing cities is a smart investment in our region’s future," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told Tampa government’s news portal, emphasizing the strength found in regional unity and cooperation. As for what's on the horizon, the PSTA Board is set to cast their final votes regarding the operator contract on December 3rd.
