City Considers Five-Year Water Taxi Service Agreement
The Miami Beach City Commission will consider approving a five-year concession agreement with Water Taxi of Miami Beach, LLC to operate water taxi service connecting Miami Beach and Miami. The proposal, sponsored by Mayor Steven Meiner and Commissioner Laura Dominguez, includes retroactive approval of a memorandum of understanding for water taxi service during Art Week 2025.
City Manager Eric Carpenter recommends the agreement following negotiations that began after Water Taxi of Fort Lauderdale LLC was selected as the top-ranked proposer from three vendors in May 2025. The service would operate Monday through Friday between Maurice Gibb Memorial Park in Miami Beach and the Venetian Marina & Yacht Club in Miami using two 40-foot vessels with 55-passenger capacity. The fare-free commuter service is designed to reduce roadway congestion and provide sustainable transportation options.
The agreement carries a total cost of approximately $1.2 million for fiscal year 2026, funded equally by a $600,000 Florida Department of Transportation grant and $600,000 in city matching funds. Service is tentatively scheduled to launch January 20, 2026, with 30-minute frequency during peak afternoon hours. The commission will also retroactively approve the $200,000 Art Week water taxi service that operated December 1-7, 2025.
