New Tampa Bay Ferry service moves closer to setting sail with vessel purchase approved

Tampa Bay Ferry reaches new deal

The Tampa Bay Ferry Service is almost ready to start. The operators are close to acquiring the two boats they'll need to carry passengers along the bay. FOX 13's Kailey Tracy brings the latest.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A new cross-bay transit service is closer to reality after local transit officials secured a deal to purchase one of two vessels.

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority received unanimous approval from the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority’s board of directors to buy the Bay Breeze ferry on May 14 for $1.6 million.

Dig deeper:

PSTA is utilizing a portion of a nearly $5 million federal grant to purchase and refurbish a total of two vessels. The transit agency is also eyeing a second boat, the Seattle-based San Juan Clipper. They also have a backup boat option in Louisiana.

While PSTA will own the boats, Hubbard’s Marina, a staple in the area for nearly 100 years, will operate them.

Details, like the service’s schedule, are still being figured out, but it will operate year-round. PSTA and Hubbard’s says they hope to dock the ferry near the Vinoy along Bayshore Drive in St. Pete and near the Convention Center in Tampa.

The backstory:

A previous seasonal ferry service in the region ended last year following a contract dispute with the previous vendor. The goal is to start tickets for the new ferry service at $10.

What's next:

Representatives from Hubbard’s Marina plan to travel to the West Coast in the coming weeks to conduct sea trials on the vessels.