\u201cWe\u2019re ready to make some splashy headlines with this service,\u201d Tampa Councilmember Alan Clendenin said at a waterside press conference Monday, touting a revived ferry service linking downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n
According to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), the new service will be called the Tampa Bay Ferry.<\/p>\n
The announcement marks a major step forward following a prolonged lull in ferry service, which had relied on leased vessels operating only during winter months. In April 2025, Tampa City Council voted unanimously to terminate its previous ferry contracts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are making great progress on getting the ferry going,\u201d said Brad Miller, CEO of PSTA. \u201cThis is historic because up until now the vessels we\u2019ve been using were from out of town only for the winter season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last December, the PSTA board approved acquiring its first vessel, the Bay Breeze. On Wednesday, the board is expected to consider acquiring a second vessel, with two options under review: the Seattle-based San Juan Clipper, currently used for whale watching, and the Candy Stripe, which is being considered as a backup but reportedly would require more refurbishment before entering service.<\/p>\n
If both vessels are secured, the ferry could operate seven days a week year-round, a major expansion from its seasonal model, and service could begin as early as the end of the year, Miller stated.<\/p>\n
Clendenin stressed that a two-vessel system is critical to making the service viable. \u201cIt has to be frequent and it has to be reliable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is just the beginning,\u201d Clendenin added, pointing to broader regional transit ambitions. \u201cYou look at east Hillsborough. We can actually get ferry service going from east Hillsborough to downtown Tampa to the Air Force base to downtown St. Petersburg.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking at options all across the city for transit,\u201d he continued. \u201cThis is just one key element. You look out and see the amount of water that surrounds our community \u2014 why wouldn\u2019t we be using it?\u201d<\/p>\n