City Council Moves Tampa Bay Ferry Plan Forward News City Council, News General, News Mayor Office In a critical step toward establishing a brand-new ferry service between[...]

In a critical step toward establishing a brand-new ferry service between Tampa and St. Petersburg, the Tampa City Council today approved an interlocal agreement with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) and the City of St. Petersburg for the future operation of a new and improved Tampa Bay Ferry.

The City of Tampa will contribute up to $350,000 in Mobility Department funds annually to support the ferry's operation. The City of St. Petersburg will do the same.

"Our waterways are among our greatest regional assets and using them as another option for commuters just makes sense. Reestablishing a ferry service with more frequent, year-round service will give residents and visitors a convenient, cost-effective, and sustainable way to travel between Tampa and St. Pete, all while easing congestion on our roadways and avoiding the hassle of looking for parking," said Tampa City Council Chairman Alan Clendenin.

Additionally, having a trusted local operator at the helm of the service is expected to help keep costs down and ridership up. After reviewing proposals from four vendors, PSTA recommended family-owned Hubbard's Marina (a.k.a. Tampa Bay Taxi) as the new operator.

"Bringing back a ferry service between our two amazing cities is a smart investment in our region's future," said Mayor Jane Castor. "We're always strongest when we can work together beyond our city boundaries and do what's best for the greater Tampa Bay community."

How did we get here?

In mid-April 2025, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) and Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners ended the agreement with HMS Ferries Inc. after the previous operator proposed replacing the existing vessel with a slower one that would've stretched ride length from under an hour to nearly two hours.

Shortly after, to recreate the connection, the PSTA accepted a transfer of a nearly $5 million federal grant from HART to purchase new vessels.

What's next? On December 3rd, the PSTA Board will vote on the operator contractor, which will then allow the vessel acquisition to begin.

Ferry operations could begin as early as the summer of 2026.