The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) board of directors unanimously approved a plan to purchase and renovate two vessels for a new service using a $4.8 million federal grant, moving the regional ferry project closer to launch.
PSTA is leading development of the new ferry system, which the agency said is intended to provide more reliable and lower-cost service than the former, which ceased operations last year.
According to PSTA, the previous Cross-Bay Ferry operated with a single vessel, limiting service frequency and preventing seven-day operations. Under the new plan, two vessels will be selected from three candidates identified through a nationwide search conducted by ferry operator Hubbard’s Marina…