Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) approved the transfer of a $4.8 million federal grant to Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s (PSTA) on Monday, allowing the Pinellas agency to move forward with a plan to possibly buy two new boats.
On April 30—after five years on the Bay and halfway through its first season of year-round service—The Ferry ended service between Tampa and St. Pete due to disagreements between the counties and its original vendor.
PSTA will look for a new third-party vendor to buy either a brand new vote or two used ferries, PSTA Chairwoman and St. Pete City Council Member Deborah Figgs-Sanders told WFTS.
Launched as a pilot project in 2016, the ferry aimed to offer an alternative to the congested 30-minute drive between the two cities. While its ridership has grown—last year saw a record 72,000 passengers—HART board member John King Jr. pointed out before Monday’s vote that it hasn’t alleviated traffic on the Gandy, the Courtney Campbell, or Howard Frankland bridges.
“It will have zero impact on cross bay transportation, which we all know is a hassle on a given day,” he said. “It essentially is a joyride.”
At one point of the meeting, Board Member John King Jr. put forth a motion to not even consider the proposal to transfer the grant money. Only Board Members Thomas Hobbs—the Chief of Staff for Port Tampa Bay—and Commissioner Christine Miller supported King’s motion.
After the meeting, Figgs-Sanders disputed King’s notion.
“Some call it a joyride, 60% use it for economical reasons, to get back and forth,” she told WFTS, adding that tourists use the ferry, too. “If this is something we can provide for those that are here—as well as economically grow from them coming to our area, why not?”
HART Board Secretary Gil Schisler pointed out that the grant would soon expire and return to the federal government. By transferring the money to PSTA, Hillsborough no longer has responsibility for the ferry.
“As I understand it, these monies will go somewhere,” Schisler said. “However minimal, they’ll still be a benefit to the region. And I’d rather go here than Seattle or Poughkeepsie or any other place in the country.”
In the end, the HART board approved the transfer of grant money to PSTA in a 8-3 vote, with Hobbs, King and Miller voting no. The federal government still has to approve the transfer.
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This article appears in May 29 – Jun 4, 2025.