The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) has made a decisive move to revitalise the Tampa Bay ferry service, unanimously voting to proceed with Hubbard's Marina as the operator for a new year-round service, according to FOX 13 News. This decision not only reintroduces a key commuting option between St. Pete and Tampa but lays the groundwork for what could be an expanded public transportation system within the region.
In a recent meeting, PSTA agreed on a five-year contract with an option for renewal, and their commitment towards rejuvenating the ferry service, which previously shut down due to contract issues, is reinforced by a nearly $5 million Federal Transit Administration grant for the procurement of one or two boats, as reported by FOX 13 News; PSTA aims for operational cost-effectiveness and affordability for users by owning the vessels, and Tampa and St. Pete are contributing $350,000 each annually towards operating costs for five years, the ambition clearly set for an enduring transportation legacy.
The project's optimism is high, with St. Petersburg City Councilwoman Deborah Figgs-Sanders stating, "This marks a pivotal period for our region as we collaborate to define the objectives of this new transportation system," as FOX 13 News quotes. The PSTA has executed the purchase of a 1994 San Francisco Bay Breeze ferry, which can carry 250 passengers, the sale contingent on federal inspections, WFLA reveals, with Captain Mark Hubbard referring to the find as "lucky."
Local business owners and residents hope this initiative will amplify economic activity, enhance mobility, and promote better use of the city's waterways, while the objective is to commence the service by spring or summer, this depends on various factors involved in the vessel procurement which is facilitated by the expertise of Hubbard’s Marina, which bears a legacy of nearly a century in the maritime industry, this was shared by Tara Hubbard, CEO of Hubbard’s Marina, in a sentiment of heartfelt anticipation rooted in family history, as conveyed by Tampa Bay 28; each move, each decision made by PSTA and its partners nudges closer towards a transformed landscape of connectivity across the bay.
The regional community is eyeing this development as a pivotal move that could kickstart broader transit solutions, with Darden Rice, Chief of Planning & Community Affairs for PSTA, indicating that the ferry's success could catalyze investment in regional transportation corridors.
