PSTA secures federal grant to buy cross-bay ferry boats, issues RFP this summer

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority told the Forward Pinellas board on June 9 that PSTA has accepted a $4,860,000 federal grant intended to support ownership of cross-bay ferry vessels and is preparing a request for proposals this summer for ferry operations and procurement.

The grant and upcoming RFP matter for regional transit because PSTA hopes owning one or two vessels will reduce dependence on private leases and improve the financial viability of a regular passenger ferry service between St. Petersburg and Tampa.

“PSTA voted unanimously to accept a federal grant to purchase 1 or 2 ferry boats from the cross Bay ferries for a cross Bay ferry service between Saint Petersburg and Tampa,” Mayor Katie Gannon reported during the board’s PSTA activities update. She said PSTA intends to use the $4,860,000 award to purchase up to two vessels and that whether PSTA can afford two boats will be determined during the RFP process planned for the summer. The PSTA board also approved extending the cost-sharing agreement to five years so the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg would share program costs for a longer term than originally contemplated.

Gannon also reported a spike in ridership across PSTA services in April, noting overall ridership rose 4% month-over-month and some seasonal lines were above pre-pandemic levels. She said Clearwater ferry ridership rose sharply during spring break.

PSTA has issued a bid invitation for a new Clearwater station in downtown Clearwater; bids are due July 11, 2025, and the transit agency said it expects the modern facility to open in early 2027 if procurement schedules are met.

Next steps include PSTA issuing the RFP for ferry operations and vessel procurement, evaluating bids this summer, and determining whether to purchase one or two vessels based on financial feasibility. Board members had no public comment recorded during Forward Pinellas’ meeting on the PSTA report.