UPDATE: Tampa City Council unanimously approved the Cross-Bay Ferry, which means the service will once again return this November and run through April of 2020. The agreement also means Ferry service is guaranteed to return November 2020 and run through April 2021. 

Did you ever give the Cross-Bay Ferry a ride? The pilot program, and its sophomore outing proved popular among area residents and tourists. In total, the ferry served about 52,000 passengers last season.

The new agreement would see four local governments provide $150,000 subsidies for the Cross-Bay Ferry service.

The St. Pete City Council just joined Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties in approving the Cross-Bay Ferry’s return this November.

The vote now heads to Tampa’s Council to decide if it will actually cruise on our waters once again. The new agreement would have the service run from November 1-April 30 for the next two years.

The ferry would pick up and drop off at Vinoy Yacht Basin in St. Pete, and by Sparkman Wharf in Tampa.

HMS Ferries has said it would cover the maintenance cost

Do you want to see the Cross-Bay Ferry return? Let us know in the comments. You can learn more about the service by visiting Cross-Bay Ferry’s website.

There is a bit of synergy between Tampa and the Burg. The Florida Orchestra has FREE pops in the park events planned for both cities this fall.

Why wouldn’t we want more access to Tampa? It would make it easier to visit The Florida Aquarium, which just made scientific history with its coral reef project.

We imagine Tampa folks will want to ferry on over here once Book + Bottle, the Burg’s soon-to-open wine library opens this fall.