TARPON SPRINGS, Fla, (WFLA) \u2014 There will once again be water transportation provided between St. Petersburg and Tampa.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority gave a behind-the-scenes look at its new ferries.<\/p>\n
While the service isn’t up and running yet, once it is, leaders said both vessels will be operating year-round. One vessel will be able to carry around 250 passengers, and the other will carry around 150.<\/p>\n
“The first time that a child steps foot on a boat, it may be one of these two ferries, and they will remember that for a lifetime,” said Lori Rainaldi Weaver, PSTA Board\/ Tarpon Springs Commissioner.<\/p>\n
“This will be something people can rely on for the long haul,” said Brad Miller, Chief Executive Officer, PSTA.<\/p>\n
Right now, they do not have a timeline of when services will start, but once they do, the goal is to have both boats operating 7 days a week.<\/p>\n
The fare will be $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, and kids under 8 will ride free.<\/p>\n
Right now, both vessels are being worked on at Tarpon Marine Services.<\/p>\n
“Getting these boats fixed up and spruced up, looking beautiful and then getting out on the Tampa Bay,” Miller said.<\/p>\n
PSTA leaders said there used to be a ferry that operated for 7 years, but that was borrowed from Boston.<\/p>\n
“It was very successful, but it only operated in the winter months, and then it went back to Boston,” Miller said.<\/p>\n
The purchase and refurbishments of the boats are funded through a Federal Transit Administration grant.<\/p>\n
On the Bay Breeze, there is a huge focus on the interior.<\/p>\n
“Re-upholstering the seats, redoing the carpet with an epoxy type flooring, redoing the exterior decks, and then mechanical upgrades,” Justin Russell, General Manager for Tarpon Marine Services.<\/p>\n
On the Bay Clipper, experts said the inside is up to date.<\/p>\n
“That focus will be on servicing the water jets, water jet service takes a lot of time,” Russell said.<\/p>\n
These two vessels will stay local to be able to reduce congestion on cross bay bridges, provide alternate transportation for locals and tourists, and get people to different events in both St. Pete and Tampa.<\/p>\n
Work is underway on both vessels, and the next step is a Coast Guard inspection, and leaders said they hope to have these vessels up and running as soon as safely possible.<\/p>\n