Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority | MEDIA ADVISORY: PSTA & Local Leaders Update Next Steps for Tampa Bay Ferry

For Immediate Release

December 1st, 2025

MEDIA ADVISORY: PSTA & Local Leaders Update Next Steps for Tampa Bay Ferry

St. Petersburg, FL—Hosted by a husband-and-wife-owned small business in Downtown St. Pete, regional leaders from the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), City of St. Petersburg, and City of Tampa will share the next steps to develop a new Tampa Bay ferry service that is built to last during a media availability on Tuesday, December 2 at 10 a.m.

ADDING VISUALS & A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE: Debbie and Mark Safko will be scooping gelato and offering their views as Downtown business owners. The couple went on their first date at Paciugo Gelato Caffe in 2011, then bought the ice cream shop years later after they got married.

This availability comes ahead of a vote by PSTA’s Board of Directors on Wednesday, December 3, to approve Hubbard’s Marina as the operator for the revitalized water transportation service. If approved, the contract will span five years, with an optional five-year extension, marking a major milestone toward restoring fast, scenic, regional mobility for residents and visitors.

WHEN:

Tuesday, December 2, at 10 a.m.

WHERE:

Paciugo Gelato Caffe

300 Beach Dr, Unit 120, in Downtown St. Petersburg

WHO:

Deborah Figgs-Sanders, PSTA Board Chair & St. Petersburg City Councilwoman

Alan Clendenin, Tampa City Council Chair

Darden Rice, Chief of Planning & Community Affairs for PSTA

Al Burns, Director of Procurement for PSTA

Brandon Campbell, City of Tampa Interim Mobility Director

Tara Hubbard, CEO of Hubbard’s Ferry

Debbie and Mark Safko, Owners of Paciguo Gelato Caffe

Stephanie Weaver

Communications & Public Relations Manager

C: (727) 249-6542

E: sweaver@psta.net

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ABOUT PINELLAS SUNCOAST TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Since 1903, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) has served as the premier public transit provider for Pinellas County, Florida’s most densely populated county. The SunRunner, Tampa Bay’s first-ever Bus Rapid Transit service, provides a reliable, car-free option from downtown St. Pete and St. Pete Beach. With 41 fixed-route bus routes, two express routes to downtown Tampa, the Suncoast Beach trolley, Jolley Trolley and Looper and their paratransit service Access, PSTA provides 10.7 million rides annually. For more information about PSTA, visit www.psta.net