New water taxi service launches between Miami and Miami Beach
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — South Florida travelers heading to and from the beach can save time and money by getting off the roads and onto the water.
Authorities launched a free campaign water taxi The service on Tuesday is with 12-foot (40-foot) boats, each carrying up to 55 people, for a spectacular 20-minute cruise along Biscayne Bay between Miami and Miami Beach.
Miami Beach transportation director José González said the service’s ultimate goal is to reduce commuter traffic between the cities.
“Right now, our crossings are full, our roads are full,” González said. he said. “But we haven’t discovered our waterways as a means of mobility.”
Water taxi service will operate from the docks at Maurice Gibb Memorial Park in Miami Beach and the Venetian Marina and Yacht Club on the Miami side of the bay. Similar water taxi services have become popular in the last two years Art Basel Miami BeachAn important part of Miami Art Week.
The city of Miami Beach covers approximately 7 square miles (18 square kilometers) on a barrier island located across the bay and east of the city of Miami.
“Our roads are very limited. We only have three passes connecting us to the mainland,” González said. “As a result, traffic congestion is a significant problem in our city, and we are constantly looking for ways to eliminate, alleviate, and provide better options for our constituents and visitors.”
Ships will operate approximately every 60 minutes in the morning and afternoon on weekdays and every 30 minutes in the evening on weekdays. The service will not initially operate on weekends. Residents and visitors will be able to benefit from the city’s free services when they arrive in Miami Beach. tram service.
The annual operating cost of the new service is expected to be approximately $1.2 million; Half of the money will come from the city of Miami Beach and the other half will come from a state grant. While the initial route will be east and west only, officials hope to add north-to-south routes in the future, depending on funding.
Visiting South Florida from Mexico City, Jane Kviat took a round trip on the new water taxi.
“It was great because they made it feel like you were on a touring holiday and we were having fun,” Kviat said. “The people were very nice and it’s a very easy way to get out there and go back and forth and have fun.”
