The search for an operator to ferry passengers between St. Petersburg and Tampa is anchors aweigh, and a new, more frequent service will relaunch in about a year.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) released a request for proposals Aug. 5 for an experienced partner to operate and manage the Tampa Bay ferry. Darden Rice, chief planning and community affairs officer, said the agency has received “very strong interest.”
Interested businesses have until Aug. 28 to submit proposals. The competitive procurement process immediately followed federal approval of a $4.8 million grant transfer between the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) and PSTA.
“We’re not just bringing back the Cross Bay Ferry,” Rice told the Catalyst. “We’re bringing back a much better, reliable, year-round service that Tampa Bay people really want and deserve.
“There’s a new way to get across the bay.”
The Cross Bay Ferry began offering seasonal waterborne transportation between downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg in 2016. Boston-based HMS Ferries operated the service.
Hillsborough County terminated its operating agreement with the company in April, after HMS announced plans to replace its catamaran-style vessel with one that cruises at about half the speed. Local governments officially scuttled the ferry May 1, amid its much-anticipated first year of continuous service.
HART received the federal grant, which was nearing its sunset date, in 2021. PSTA will oversee a new Tampa Bay ferry, and hopes to purchase two high-speed vessels with the money.
“The real advantage here, and what’s different about this, is that PSTA will own the boats,” Rice said. “That is what gives us the opportunity to pass on the savings to the City of St. Petersburg and the City of Tampa, who are funding partners.”
Rice believes those savings “could be passed on to our riders, as well.” In May, CEO Brad Miller stated that leasing the ferries would generate $1 million annually, and PSTA could use the revenue to bolster its bus system.
He also noted that PSTA secured a state funding match that will save the regional partners $1.2 million. The agency will not subsidize the service.
The operational cost for the Cross Bay Ferry was $615 per hour for 2,763 service hours. According to initial estimates, the price tag for a new service with two vessels is $250 hourly for 5,482 hours.
Rice said the $4.8 million would only cover one new vessel. PSTA is also “open to looking at lightly-used” ferries, and an operator could “come to the table with a proposal to use their own boat.”
The selected applicant will help inform those decisions, and Rice said “everything is negotiable at this point.” PSTA has received “really strong interest from everyone – from very reputable local ferry operators to some of the bigger national companies.”
A combination of experience, business strategy and cost will determine the winner. PSTA’s governing board must subsequently approve a five-year contract with a five-year extension option.
“We’ve been happy with the people who have reached out and shown interest so far,” Rice said. “We’re anticipating a healthy number of responses.”
PSTA will not reuse the Cross Bay’s moniker. Rice called the previous service a seasonal experiment and said it is a “whole new day” for waterborne transit in Tampa Bay.
The goal is to launch a ferry that “people can count on” for daily commutes to work, school or events. Rice believes offering trips later in the evening will also promote tourism.
“We’re also integrating our ferry with our bus and mobility services,” she added. “I think this is about giving our region a new, sustainable transportation option that takes cars off of bridges, eases congestion and creates a memorable experience to get across the water.”
Rice noted that Tampa Bay is one of the few coastal, urban areas without a robust transit system. The new ferry service could eventually connect to Clearwater, Manatee County and other coastal communities.
In May 20224, Pinellas County’s planning agency, Forward Pinellas, and the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce enlisted a national consultant to complete a market feasibility. Connecting the entire Tampa Bay region via ferry service, Rice said, “is truly the hope. The identity of our region is tied to that body of water.”
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Republished with permission from The St. Pete Catalyst.
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