The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) Board of Directors has approved a plan to purchase and renovate two vessels using a single $4.8 million federal grant, helping to advance the Tampa Bay Ferry service.
PSTA is leading the development of the new ferry, which will offer improved service, lower costs, and more long-term stability than the popular Cross-Bay Ferry, which shut down last year.
The Cross-Bay Ferry operated with only one boat, which prevented it from running seven days a week. Two vessels will be chosen from three possible options that have been identified in a nationwide search led by PSTA’s ferry operator, PVA member Hubbard’s Marina, to find potential boats.
With the new service, PSTA is targeting a one-way ticket price of $10, which is less expensive than the price charged by the Cross-Bay Ferry. The two boats, once chosen, will be fully renovated, with plans to include a bar on board with snacks, kid-friendly drinks, and adult beverages. No launch date has been announced, but plans are for the service to begin as soon as the vessels are purchased, retrofitted, tested, and delivered to Tampa Bay.
“We’re committed to creating this service the right way, so it’s sustainable for the long term,” said PSTA CEO Brad Miller. “That’s why everyone should be impressed by the effort of the Hubbard’s Marina team, working with our staff, to maximize taxpayer dollars and get two boats with this one federal grant.”
In December of 2025, the board of directors approved the purchase of the first boat, the Bay Breeze. Built by Nichols Brothers Boat Building, the vessel was recently retired having served its original operator, San Francisco Bay Ferry, since it was constructed in 1994. In the coming weeks, PSTA staff and Hubbard’s Marina are considering the purchase of one of two other vessels: the San Juan Clipper in Seattle, Wash.; or the Candy Stripe, in Morgan City, La. The final two boats are expected to receive new names in a formal ceremony before joining the Tampa Bay Ferry fleet.