Pinellas County Transit Authority (PSTA) is seeking proposals from companies to take over the Cross Bay Ferry service, with submissions due by August 28.

The chosen operator would work with PSTA to acquire two ferries and restart service as early as next year.

The previous contract was terminated this spring after operator HMS Ferries proposed replacing the vessel with a slower boat, which would have doubled travel time across the bay —a violation of its agreement with Hillsborough County. In April, Hillsborough commissioners voted to end the deal.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation approved transferring nearly $5 million in federal funds from Hillsborough’s transit authority to PSTA to support the ferry’s relaunch.

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