PSTA Approves Ferry Plan, Boosting Bay Area Transit

0:00It's April 29th. This is Tampa Bay News today, powered by AI. The Pinellas Sun Coast Transit Authority Board just gave the green light to a two-vessel plan for the Tampa Bay Ferry Service. They approved it unanimously on April 29th, 2026, using a $4.8 million federal grant to buy and fix up the boats. PSTA's ferry operator, Hubbard's Marina, ran a nationwide hunt to find the right vessels and they're wrapping up those choices now. This move has folks excited about better transit options across the bay, cutting down on traffic headaches and boosting connections between Pinellas and Hillsboro counties. Right now, the focus is on retrofitting, testing, and getting the boats delivered, with no set launch date yet beyond that. Once those ferries hit the water, expect smoother sales and a real game changer for daily commuters in the Bay Area.