Cross Bay Ferry returns with year-round service between St. Pete and Tampa
the 149-passenger Cross Bay Ferry is making a return this october with full-year service | cross bay ferry
The Cross Bay Ferry that links St. Pete and Tampa commuters will return this week - this time with year-round service.
Starting October 4th, the Cross Bay Ferry will resume operations, shuttling passengers from the local terminus at Port St. Pete (250 8th Avenue SE) and the Tampa Convention Center via a 50-minute ride.
The 149-passenger ferry, which is typically in service from October to May, will be available year-round, according to operator HMS Ferries.
The ferry will depart on Wednesday through Sunday, and provide special Monday and Tuesday service on Tampa Bay Lightning game days.
The cross Bay ferry will have extended service hours during tampa bay lightning home games | cross Bay ferry
The ferry will run an extended schedule during home games the 2024-2025 Tampa Bay Lightning season to ensure fans can get home after the game.
The Cross-Bay Ferry is a regional collaboration between Hillsborough County, the Florida Department of Transportation, the City of Tampa, the City of St. Petersburg, and Pinellas County. Hillsborough County is currently the lead governmental sponsor.
The waterborne transit service was introduced in 2016 as a solution to help relieve vehicular congestion on the roadways while boosting spending activities on both sides of the bay.
Since its launch, the Cross Bay Ferry has carried 300,000 passengers.
In 2022, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit received a $4.9 million grant to secure a larger vessel. However additional funding is needed to make the larger vessel a reality.
Tickets for adults are priced at $12 for one way ($24 roundtrip). Tickets for seniors, military members, and college students are $11.
For more information on the schedules and tickets on the Cross Bay Ferry, visit thecrossbayferry.com.