Plan for ferry dock aided with $850,000 in federal funds
ST. PETERSBURG — U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor presented the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority on Sept. 4 with $850,000 in federal funding toward a permanent Tampa Bay Ferry dock in downtown St. Petersburg.
“This is another piece of the puzzle coming together,” said Brad Miller, CEO of PSTA. “We’re grateful to Congresswoman Castor for helping secure this funding and to everyone who has continued to move this project forward. There’s still work ahead, but we’re making steady progress toward bringing the ferry back.”
The ferry will connect downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa. PSTA will announce a start date as refurbishment of the two vessels nears completion.
Both boats, the Bay Breeze and the Bay Clipper, have arrived at Tarpon Marine Services in Tarpon Springs and are being refurbished for passenger service. Their purchase and refurbishment are backed by a $4.8 million Federal Transit Administration grant.
U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna toured the Bay Clipper during a recent visit to the yard.
PSTA also received a $16.5 million federal grant through the Federal Transit Administration’s Passenger Ferry Grant Program to buy a new vessel for the service.
County to switch water treatment for three weeks
Pinellas County will temporarily change its water disinfection method from chloramine to chlorine starting Monday, Sept. 21, as part of semiannual system maintenance.
The switch runs through Saturday, Oct. 10. Drinking water may smell or taste slightly different during that time, but water pressure and service will not be affected, utilities officials said.
The county performs the switch twice a year to improve water quality and head off problems in the system. Officials said there have been no signs of significant bacteriological contamination, and the water will continue to meet federal and state standards for safe drinking water.
Kidney dialysis patients should not be affected but can contact their dialysis provider with questions about chlorine disinfection. Fish owners with a system that already removes chloramines should not be affected; others can check with local pet suppliers.
The maintenance affects Pinellas County Utilities customers as well as customers in Belleair, Clearwater, Pinellas Park and Safety Harbor.