The City of Miami Beach launched a free commuter water taxi service Tuesday, offering residents and visitors a new way to travel and enjoy the views of Biscayne Bay between Sunset Harbour and downtown Miami.
The service began operations at the Maurice Gibb Memorial Park dock in Miami Beach and continued its route to the Venetian Marina and Yacht Club.
“A scenic, stress free alternative to driving across the causeway,” said Miami Beach city manager Eric Carpenter. “And importantly, it does so at no cost to the riders.”
Each 40-foot vessel carries up to 55 passengers and completes the trip in about 20 minutes. Boats run every hour during most of the day, with increased frequency during evening commute hours.
“Our water taxi is a way to deliver a service that’s not just fun, scenic, and eases traffic, it’s environmentally friendly,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner.
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner also says the service is designed to better use the city’s waterways while strengthening its network of free transportation options. City officials describe the launch as the first phase of a broader transit vision and say the route could expand north and south in the future, if funding allows.
