Cross Bay Ferry

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority approved transferring a $4.8 million federal grant to its Pinellas counterpart to buy one or two boats that could replace the Cross Bay Ferry.

It approved a nearly $5 million grant to purchase two new ferries, and now awaits a vote by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority.

For now, the Cross Bay Ferry — which has operated since 2016 — is no longer in service.

The Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners voted to end its contract with the company that operates the Cross Bay Ferry early.

Hillsborough County and HMS Ferries have operated the service between St. Petersburg and Tampa since 2021. An unexpected change of vessel could lead to the service ending permanently.

Plans call for it to operate multiple times on Thursday to Sunday starting Nov. 1.

Hornblower Group will continue transportation services like the Cross Bay Ferry while they move through the court-supervised process.

St. Petersburg's Director of Transportation and Parking, Evan Mory, said there have been six changes to docking sites on both sides of the bay over the years.

Hillsborough County commissioners were critical of the project after hearing an update.

The ferry celebrated its 62,131st rider of the season on April 29.

Hillsborough transportation officials approved the $6 million purchase of a permanent vessel.

The ferry begins its sixth season of operation, with an extended schedule, on Oct. 19. It runs through May 2023.