St. Pete explores permanent ferry dock at St. Pete Pier for service to downtown Tampa
/The Tampa Bay Ferry may have a new terminus at the St. Pete Pier | city of st. petersburg
The passenger ferry linking downtown St. Pete and downtown Tampa may soon have a new home on the St. Pete Pier.
As the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) prepares to relaunch the Tampa Bay Ferry, formerly known as the Cross Bay Ferry, the city is evaluating plans to construct a permanent dock near the St. Petersburg Museum of History, according to documents obtained by St. Pete Rising.
When the ferry service launched in 2016, it carried passengers on a roughly 50-minute trip from the former inverted-pyramid pier in downtown St. Pete to the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa.
After the pier closed for reconstruction a year later, the St. Pete dock was relocated to North Straub Park.
Then in 2023, when the permit for the St. Pete dock expired, the ferry’s local terminus was moved again, this time to the Port of St. Petersburg, located south of Albert Whitted Airport.
While the Port location kept the service operational, it’s been criticized by riders and city officials for being out of sight and inconvenient compared to the original downtown stop.
The proposed permanent ferry dock would be built near the St. Petersburg Museum of History on the St. Pete Pier | st. pete rising
“We’ve always felt the St. Pete Pier was the ideal location for a ferry dock,” said Evan Mory, the city’s Transportation and Parking Management Director, in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “It’s centrally located and can accommodate two vessels.”
The permanent dock is estimated to cost between $2.64 million and just over $3 million, depending on its size, according to a study by McLaren Engineering Group.
A federal grant of $850,000 secured by Congresswoman Kathy Castor is pending, while the City of St. Petersburg has already committed roughly $450,000 from its general fund for a location analysis and preliminary design work.
The city’s analysis evaluated five potential sites: two on the North Yacht Basin at the St. Pete Pier and three on the South Yacht Basin.
Each option was evaluated based on environmental impact, accessibility, integration with existing waterfront amenities, and potential to accommodate future passenger demand.
The location near the Museum of History was ultimately selected as the most accessible and compatible with surrounding uses.
The new dock would include a security gate, ticket booth, and full ADA compliance. No fuel station is planned onsite; instead, vessels will refuel from deliveries by truck.
“A big benefit with PSTA overseeing the ferry operations is that they are able to use their diesel buying power and also lock in future prices to help stabilize and reduce operating costs,” Mory said.
PSTA is also exploring hybrid-powered vessels that could further reduce operating costs and emissions.
The project would require permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Pinellas County, and the City of St. Petersburg.
In addition, the city’s comprehensive plan would need to be amended since current regulations don’t allow additional marina developments in the basin. Once approved, the city would select a general contractor through a competitive procurement process.
According to Mory, it could take two to three years for the new dock to open.
If built, the new dock would be completed in the next two to three years | Google Maps
In the meantime, the ferry is expected to resume service as early as summer 2026 using a temporary dock at North Straub Park and a new operator.
Earlier this month, PSTA selected longtime local boating company, Hubbard’s Marina, to take over ferry operations following the termination of its contract with Boston-based HMS Ferries in April.
Looking ahead, Hubbard’s Marina envisions a broader regional network connecting not just St. Pete and Tampa, but also destinations like Apollo Beach, MacDill Air Force Base, Gulfport, Bradenton, and eventually linking with the Clearwater Ferry.
Beyond the ferry itself, city and transit officials see potential for better regional connectivity.
“I think the connection with other transit alternatives is the most interesting aspect,” Mory said. “PSTA’s SunRunner bus stop near the Pier [at 150 1st Avenue North] would be a short walk from the dock. Ferry riders could travel to different parts of St. Pete and even the beaches.”
Both the St. Petersburg and Tampa City Councils are expected to vote on the future of the ferry November 6th, with a final vote by the PSTA board scheduled for December 3rd.
The upcoming St. Pete City Council vote would also authorize additional design work by McLaren Engineering Group, a hydrographic survey, and geotechnical investigation.
