The Cross Bay Ferry, which connects Tampa and St. Petersburg, is returning to service next month after the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) secured a key grant that will allow the operation to resume — this time with new, faster vessels.

At its Wednesday night meeting, PSTA approved its annual budget, which includes the funding derived from a $4.9 million grant from the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART). The funding will be used to purchase two new ferries to replace those used before the shutdown.

The ferry service formerly carried between 80,000 and 100,000 riders each year. It has served as both a means of transportation and a recreational amenity. Riders have praised the service not only as an alternative to congested roadways, but also for the experience — spotting wildlife, enjoying the water, and avoiding traffic.

Service was shut down earlier this year after Hillsborough County ended its contract with the operator. With the new grant, PSTA will be able to pick up the mantle locally, restoring ferry service to the region.

In addition to reinstating the Tampa–St. Petersburg route in October 2025, PSTA is also planning to expand Clearwater’s ferry operations. There are plans to add a route to Dunedin as soon as next month.

Local officials, including PSTA CEO Brad Miller and Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott, emphasized the ferry’s importance for both residents and visitors: boosting business for restaurants, giving sports fans another way to travel, reducing traffic burden, and offering a delightful outing across the Bay.

As one longtime passenger put it: the ferry is “a luxury item, but it’s also sort of a utility … because it’s function and it’s fun.”

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(Image credit: Cross Bay Ferry press release media)

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