Hillsborough OKs giving Pinellas funds for Cross Bay Ferry, saving popular service
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The fast passenger ferry Provincetown IV heads to St. Pete from downtown Tampa. Photo: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The Cross Bay Ferry service isn't dead after all.
Why it matters: Hillsborough's transit authority agreed to send about $5 million across the Bay so Pinellas can buy a vessel — keeping a popular and affordable mode of travel between the two counties afloat.
Catch up quick: Hillsborough received a $4.8 million federal grant in 2021 to fund its now-abandoned plan for a commuter ferry in the county's southern region. If left unused, the grant would expire next year.
- In March, the Cross Bay Ferry's operator told commissioners that the ship used for the service would no longer be available after April 30 and offered one that county staff described as "much slower."
- The board called the offer "unacceptable" and gave the operator time to propose an alternative, but it did not; instead, it moved to end the service. Commissioners voted in April to do so.
Driving the news: Pinellas transit officials expressed interest in buying a vessel for the Cross Bay Ferry, but to do so, they needed Hillsborough to transfer almost $5 million from the soon-to-expire grant.
- Pinellas made clear the transfer wouldn't cost Hillsborough any local funds. Instead, it would keep the unused federal money in the region, and a new vessel would also help cut service provider costs.
- Hillsborough Area Regional Transit officials voted Monday to transfer the funds, arguing that if the grant expired, the money would be sent elsewhere, and no one in the region would benefit.
- Support wasn't unanimous. Board member John King described the Cross Bay Ferry as a "joy ride" and a "waste" of taxpayer money
The big picture: The Cross Bay Ferry has carried hundreds of thousands of riders since 2018.
- The service became so popular with commuters and tourists that it transitioned from a seasonal offering to a year-round operation in 2024.
What they're saying: "This is a big win for regional collaboration and for the future of transit in Tampa Bay," said Brad Miller, CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.
- "Thanks to HART's support, we're closer than ever to bringing a faster, more convenient ferry service to our community."
What's next: The transfer still needs a green light from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), but the transit agencies have already confirmed with the FTA that a transfer can be made.
- The new Cross Bay Ferry could then begin operations as early as 2026.
Editor's note: This story was updated to add comments from Brad Miller, CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.