Ferry Dock Funding Secured: $850,000 to Build Permanent Vinoy Landing for Tampa Bay Ferry

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has secured $850,000 in federal funding to build a permanent ferry dock in downtown St. Petersburg, right in front of the Vinoy Hotel, clearing a major hurdle for the revived Tampa Bay Ferry service set to launch before the end of 2026. PSTA announced the funding at a public event near the future dock site on Sept. 4.

The money comes from the fiscal 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill and was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor. Until the permanent structure goes in at the Vinoy, riders will board at a temporary dock off Bayshore Drive, across from Straub Park North. That is the same spot the old Cross Bay Ferry used before it shut down in April 2025.

Tampa's side of the route already has a dock left over from the previous ferry run, so the missing piece has always been a permanent home on the St. Petersburg waterfront. This funding builds it.

What's different this time

The old Cross Bay Ferry ran on a single boat, which meant it couldn't operate seven days a week. PSTA has since bought two vessels for the new service, including the Bay Breeze, a 250-passenger boat similar in size to the old ferry's ship. A second boat, the Clipper, rounds out the fleet.

With two boats, PSTA says the new Tampa Bay Ferry will run year-round, seven days a week, with more daily crossings between St. Petersburg and Tampa than riders got before. A detailed schedule has not been released yet.

The $850,000 dock grant was part of a larger package for Pinellas waterborne transit. A companion appropriation of $828,000, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, is going toward rebuilding the storm-damaged ferry dock in Dunedin and supporting the Clearwater Ferry route linking Dunedin, downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach, a separate project tied to the county's recovery from Hurricane Milton. PSTA CEO Brad Miller has said the ferry dock investment creates lasting regional infrastructure that gives residents and visitors more transportation choices along the waterfront. St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth Welch has credited the funding partnership with delivering real results for residents dealing with regional traffic congestion.

What comes next

PSTA has not released a firm launch date or a published sailing schedule. The agency has said it expects service to begin before year's end, once the boats finish testing and the temporary dock near Straub Park is ready to receive passengers. Construction timing for the permanent Vinoy dock has not been announced.

Riders should expect $10 one-way fares once the route opens, a price PSTA has held steady through months of planning updates. Anyone who used the old Cross Bay Ferry will recognize the pickup spot near Straub Park North, at least until the permanent Vinoy landing is finished.

Have questions about the ferry's return or want to share how you used the old Cross Bay Ferry? Join the conversation in our Community Forum, follow more government and transit news from around the county, and check out our latest local news. Find us on Facebook for updates, or visit the Pinellas County Community Website for more coverage of the story as the launch date approaches.

Header photo: Ebyabe / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)