DUNEDIN — Dunedin’s efforts to repair its hurricane-damaged pier took a step forward March 30 with the delivery of $800,000 in federal funding.
U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna on March 30 presented a check for the funds to representatives from the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and the city of Dunedin.
The money will be used to reconstruct the portion of the pier used by PSTA’s Clearwater Ferry, creating a permanent dock for the ferry service.
“After the devastation caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton, rebuilding the Dunedin Pier is about more than infrastructure, it’s about restoring the heart of this community,” Luna said. “I was proud to help secure this funding to ensure Dunedin comes back stronger, safer, and ready to thrive again.”
The ferry has made stops at the pier since 2018, connecting the city with Clearwater Beach and downtown Clearwater. When Hurricane Helene ripped apart the pier, the Dunedin portion of the ferry service was halted for more than a year.
In October, service to Dunedin resumed with a small temporary dock. That stopgap measure will be replaced by a full, permanent dock in the months ahead.
“With the Dunedin line being the most popular Clearwater Ferry route, in terms of ridership, this funding will restore a critical transit link that will support tourism, workforce mobility and congestion relief along the beach communities,” said Brad Miller, chief executive officer of PSTA.
The funds will be coordinated with funding from FEMA, the State of Florida’s Disaster Fund, and the city’s general fund to bring the pier back to life. Construction is now underway, with completion expected by the end of this year.
“This $828,000 investment is a meaningful step in Dunedin’s recovery from hurricanes Helene and Milton and ensures the Clearwater Ferry can continue serving our waterfront community,” said Rob Walker, vice mayor of the city and a PSTA board member.
Walker said the ferry transported an estimated 25,000 passengers in 2025 between Clearwater, Clearwater Beach and Dunedin and is expected to surpass that number in 2026.
