st. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Bureau will host a Public Budget Conference. Here we discuss the future of both Crossbay and Clearwater Ferries.
Both are highly anticipated topics following the fatal clearwater ferry collision and interest in connecting another form of transport between Pinellas and Tampa.
The residents we spoke to say they are ready for the ferry return.
“I’m very excited, I’ll put a lot of it on. I want to take it, so I don’t want to sit in traffic. I don’t want to drive on that bridge (Howard Frankland Bridge),” said resident Ryan Savia.
With a $4.8 million grant received from HART earlier this year, PSTA will purchase two ferries to help reduce costs.
“The fact that PSTA owns a boat is key to how you can keep prices down and pass it on to your partners in St. Pete and Tampa and to your riders,” said Darden Rice, PSTA’s chief planning officer.
They intend to provide services all year round. New stops like Dunedin are also controversial.
“I’ve heard clearly from the people of Tampa Bay that they want more, but they deserve more,” Rice said.
Tampa and St. Pete riders and taxpayers can help cover operational costs. The goal is said to be to have the ferries open by this time next year.
The budget meeting will begin tonight at 6pm at PSTA’s headquarters at 3201 Scherer Drive in St. Petersburg. The meeting is open to the public.
