Keep the Cross Bay Ferry Afloat

Help Keep $5 Million in Federal Transit Funds in Tampa Bay

The Cross Bay Ferry connects downtown St. Pete and Tampa — offering a scenic, stress-free alternative to sitting in car traffic. It just had its best season ever with 72,000 riders.

Now, a $4.86 million federal grant to buy a larger ferry and expand service is at risk of being lost. Hillsborough County is delaying a vote to transfer the grant to Pinellas, which is ready to put it to work.

This transfer would cost Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties nothing — but without action, the ferry will be dead in the water, and the funding will go to another community.

If we don’t act now, we lose both the ferry and the momentum for better transit in Tampa Bay.

Click the button below to open a pre-filled email to PSTA board members. It takes less than a minute — and your voice can make the difference. A personalized message is even better, but just sending the form email helps!

(If the link below doesn't work for you, scroll down for more options.)

Email PSTA Transit Leaders

What’s the Issue?

Cross-Bay Ferry at a Crossroads: Help Keep $5M in Tampa Bay

The Cross-Bay Ferry, which connects St. Pete and Tampa, just wrapped up a record-setting season with over 72,000 riders. Local leaders want to expand it into a year-round service, but the future is now uncertain.

In 2022, Hillsborough County’s transit agency (HART) secured a $4.86 million federal grant to buy a larger ferry boat. This would double capacity and boost service. But HART no longer plans to use the funds, and the grant will expire soon if not reallocated.

Pinellas County’s transit agency (PSTA) is ready to step up — they’ve requested the grant be transferred so they can purchase a new boat and restart and grow the ferry service. This transfer costs Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties nothing and keeps the money in our region.

Importantly, the current ferry service was abruptly shut down in April due to a vessel issue. Without new vessels and a new operator, the ferry won’t return.

This is a win-win for Tampa Bay, but several PSTA board members nonetheless have signaled their opposition to accepting the grant. We need to voice support for the Ferry now!

Key dates:

May 28: PSTA Board votes on grant acceptance
June 2: HART Board could vote to finalize the transfer

Why It Matters:

✅ Proven Demand: The ferry set a record with 72,000 riders last season, even with limited service. Imagine what it could do with more trips and a larger boat.

✅ Less Traffic, Better Mobility: Every ferry rider is one less car on our jammed bridges. This improves daily commutes, reduces crashes, and connects workers to jobs across the bay.

✅ Boosts the Economy: A permanent ferry strengthens the region’s economy by linking two vibrant downtowns and helping people get to work, shop, and visit more easily.

✅ Environmentally Smarter: Water transit cuts carbon emissions and fits with Pinellas County’s award-winning commitment to sustainable transportation.

✅ Zero Local Cost: The grant is already awarded federal money. Transferring it to Pinellas costs Hillsborough nothing and keeps the $5M here instead of losing it back to D.C.

✅ Better Service, Lower Fares: Owning a vessel unlocks more funding and more control. That means more frequent, reliable trips and potentially lower prices for riders.

✅ Local Control, Local Accountability: With PSTA in charge, Pinellas residents get a say. We can make this ferry “true transit,” not just a tourist ride.

✅ Budget Neutral: Accepting the federal grant will not add a penny to PSTA's operating budget. The cities of St Petersburg and Tampa will cover the operating expenses of the ferry, including maintenance.

What You Can Do

If you live in Pinellas County, contact the PSTA Board using the links below and ask them to support accepting the transfer of the grant from HART. If you live in Hillsborough County, contact HART and urge the Board to transfer the grant to PSTA.

Email PSTA Leaders

Click the button below to open a pre-filled email with board member addresses, subject line, and message. It takes less than a minute — and your voice can make the difference. A personalized message is ideal, but even sending the form email helps!

Gmail and others

Outlook

If the links above don't work for you, copy and paste the following text and send it to the email addresses below.

Subject: Save the Cross Bay Ferry

Dear PSTA Board Member,

Please support the transfer of the federal grant from HART to the PSTA so that we can keep the Cross Bay Ferry afloat. This investment keeps $5 million in our region, reduces car traffic between St. Pete and Tampa, and supports businesses and jobs on both sides of the bay.

Giving people safer and easier ways to get around Tampa Bay helps build a more resilient transportation system and supports long-term economic prosperity for the entire region.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]

bmiller@psta.net, mdibrizzi@largo.com, kgannon@oldsmarfl.gov, bhaselde@tampabay.rr.com, maxolivermccann@gmail.com, rwalker@dunedinfl.net, cscherer@pinellas.gov, brscott@pinellas.gov, clatvala@pinellas.gov, kpeters@pinellascounty.org, gina.driscoll@stpete.org, apetrila@stpetebeach.org, david.allbritton@myclearwater.com, preed@pinellas-park.com, treid@mysouthpasadena.com, Deborah.Figgs-Sanders@stpete.org

(If you get an error, try replacing the commas between addresses with semicolons.)