The free water taxi service in Miami Beach has already received funding from the Florida Department of Transportation for the fiscal year 2027, as confirmed by Mayor Steven Meiner in statements reported this Wednesday by Miami Today, ensuring the continuation of the service for at least that period.
"We have already received the grant for 2027, so we are ready," stated Meiner, who also announced that the city will provide its own funds to cover operational costs.
The service, which connects Maurice Gibb Memorial Park with Venetian Marina in a journey of about 18 minutes across Biscayne Bay, has recorded over 155,000 passengers since its inauguration on January 20 through September, according to municipal figures cited by Miami Today.
In peak season, the service recorded over 1,000 daily passengers, exceeding initial projections.
A municipal memorandum indicates that around 8% of users were unable to board due to high demand and the limited capacity of the vessels, highlighting the pressure on the current system.
The operational cost for the initial period was approximately $1.2 million, equally divided between the city and the Florida Department of Transportation. The estimated annual cost amounts to $1.45 million.
More than 99% of scheduled trips were completed by August, a reliability indicator that the mayor highlights as an argument for expanding the network.
Meiner is advocating for a regional expansion that, in his vision, could connect all of Miami-Dade County through a network of water taxis. “I estimate that with 50 million dollars, which is a lot of money but in a way isn’t that much, we could connect the entire county,” he stated.
The city has already completed a preliminary feasibility study to identify potential locations for new docks in Miami Beach and along Biscayne Bay. A more detailed analysis of dock and boardwalk infrastructure is underway and is expected to be concluded in the coming months.
Potential expansion areas include South of Fifth and North Beach, as well as connections to Bayside Marketplace, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and points in northern Miami Beach.
Each new floating dock would have an estimated cost of between 300,000 and 500,000 dollars, and adding an additional vessel would represent close to one million dollars annually in operating expenses.
The mayor is seeking additional funding from the federal government, Miami-Dade County, and private companies. "I am very active in seeking additional funds, not only from the state but also from the federal government," he emphasized.
Regarding the gratuity of the service, Meiner prefers to maintain it, although he does not rule it out as an adjustable variable. "I would love for it to remain free, but we would certainly consider a small nominal fee if that could improve efficiency," he stated. For now, there are no approved or announced charges.
The city has also not set a schedule for adding routes, docks, or vessels, and the ongoing studies are the prerequisite for applying for new grants that would make the expansion feasible.
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