LTC 215-2017 Water Taxi Pilot Program (FY 17 - 1st & 2nd Quarter)MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THF CITY tAANIArFR
NO. LTC # 215-2017
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members of he City C•J mission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April 25, 2017
SUBJECT: WATER TAXI PILOT PROGRAM (FY17 — 1ST AND 2ND QUARTER)
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to report on the progress of a public waterborne
transportation services (water taxi) pilot program including ridership figures during the first and
second quarters of Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, from October 1 to December 31, 2016, and from January
1, 2017 to March 31, 2017.
On April 30, 2016, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2016-29370 approving a water taxi
pilot program (pursuant to ITN No. 2014 -326 -JR) with Water Taxi Miami, Inc. (Concessionaire) for a
term of one (1) year serving the Purdy Avenue Dock, Sea Isle Marina, Bayside Marketplace, and
Miami Beach Marina. The water taxi pilot service operates Friday through Sunday. Attachment
depicts water taxi route, schedule, and cost.
Pursuant to an operating agreement, Water Taxi Miami commenced special event service for Art
Basel 2016 from December 1 through December 3, 2016 as part of the approved High Impact
Events Plan of Operation approved by the City under the Agreement. During Art Basel 2016, water
taxi service was provided to 253 passengers who used the service to travel between Miami Beach
and Miami.
During Quarter 1 of FY17, regular water taxi service operated on December 30 and December 31,
2017, however, no tickets were sold at the Purdy Avenue Dock during those two (2) days.
During Quarter 2 of FY17, 78 tickets were sold at Purdy Avenue Dock. The total number of
passenger boardings at Purdy Avenue Dock was 79 and the total number of passenger
disembarking at Purdy Avenue Dock was 154. The majority of the passengers boarding at Purdy
Avenue Dock (74 out of 79) had Bayside Marketplace as their destination. The majority of the
passengers who disembarked at Purdy Avenue Dock (152 out of 154) originated from Bayside
Marketplace. The total number of passengers using water taxi service during the second quarter of
FY17 was 233.
Per the Agreement, the Concessionaire is required to pay the City a surcharge per ticket sold at
Purdy Avenue Dock for the water taxi service. Based on number of tickets sold pursuant to the water
taxi pilot program, the Concessionaire was subject to $71.75 surcharge. Pursuant to the approved
Plan of Operation during Art Basel 2016, the Concessionaire was subject to a $2 surcharge for each
ticket sold regardless of point of origin, resulting in $506 in surcharges. The total amount of
surcharge for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 is $577.75. The Transportation Department is in the process
of invoicing the Concessionaire for this amount.
From an operational perspective, malfunctions of the east Venetian Causeway bascule bridge have
affected the water taxi operation and its ability to adhere to advertised schedules. Due to bridge
LTC- Water Taxi Pilot Program
April 25, 2017
Page 2
malfunction on Friday, January 6, 2017, and Friday, March 3, 2017, the water taxi service was
suspended at Purdy Avenue Dock on those days.
Pursuant to the Agreement, service shall be operated using a 38 passenger vessel. Site inspections
conducted by Transportation Department staff on February 17 and February 24, 2017 determined
that the service was being operated using a small six (6) passenger vessel. The Concessionaire was
consulted and the approved vessel was used for the remainder of the quarter.
Currently, the water taxi service is using one of the existing docks at Purdy for its operation. Funding
has been allocated for the design and construction of a dock for motorized vessels and kayak launch
at Purdy Avenue Dock. The new dock for motorized vessels will be used for water taxi operation.
The design of the new dock has been completed and construction of the seawall, a prerequisite for
the new dock, is currently underway. The construction of the dock and kayak launch is anticipated to
be completed by end of August, 2017. At that time, the Administration would recommend that a new
solicitation be issued for public waterborne transportation services.
The County is currently working on updating a 2006 feasibility study on waterborne transportation
solutions, including a plan for of on -demand and fixed route waterborne transportation. At this time,
the timeline for completion of the County's feasibility study and a potential solicitation for such
services has not been determined.
At the time of water taxi pilot program approval, the City Commission requested that a full-time park
ranger/dock master be retained in order to better regulate commercial and non-commercial uses at
Purdy Avenue Dock and boat ramp. Although funding to provide such coverage was requested
during the FY17 budget development process, the funding request was ultimately not approved by
the City Commission. Pursuant to a request from the Marine and Waterfront Protection Authority
(MWPA) to better regulate commercial and non-commercial uses at the dock, a park ranger is
posted at the dock on Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The water taxi operator has assigned
an employee to serve as an ambassador at Purdy Avenue Dock during water taxi service hours,
however, this person has no authority to enforce any non -permitted commercial uses at Purdy
Avenue Dock. In addition to the cost associated with design and construction of a dock for motorized
vessels, previously approved by the City Commission, the City has incurred an additional cost of
approximately $650 during special event service for Art Basel 2016 from December 1 through
December 3, 2016 as a result of providing park ranger coverage during the event in connection with
the water taxi service. The majority of this cost ($506 out of $650) is offset by the surcharge
generated from tickets sold during the special event operation.
The Department of Marketing and Communications has been promoting the water taxi pilot service.
These efforts include, but are not limited to, social media advertisement, communications e -blast,
MB Magazine, MBTV, and public service announcement on -board the Miami Beach Trolleys. Water
taxi pilot program information was also shared with the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel
Association and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau for their dissemination. The
water taxi operator has supplemented the City's promotional efforts by mailing brochures to
residents and businesses in the Sunset Harbour neighborhood.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Atta ments:Water Taxi Service Plan flyers (English and Spanish)
JLM/ B/�MM
F:\TRAN\$ALL\LTC\LTCs Transit\LTC - Miami Beach Water Taxi Pilot Program.docx
Attachment pg 1/2
WHETHER TOURING THE
CITY OR JUST GETTING
AROUND TOWN, NOW
YOU CAN COAST INTO
THE WEEKEND ON
A WATER TAXI!
WELCOME
ABOARD!
SEA ISLE
MARINA
BAYSIDE
MARKETPLACE
PURDY
AVENUE
DOCK
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Friday to Sunday at the Purdy
Avenue dock, using a 38
passenger vessel with the ability
to accommodate bicycles.
Bayside
Marketplace
Miami Beach
Marina
Purdy Ave Sea Isle
Dock Marina
10:45 AM
11:20 AM
11:40 AM 12:00 PM
12:15 PM
12:50 PM
1:10 PM 1:30 PM
1:45 PM
2:20 PM
2:40 PM 3:00 PM
3:15 PM
3:50 PM
4:10 PM 4:30PM
4:45 PM
5:20 PM
5:40 PM 6:00 PM
6:30 PM*
6:50 PM*
7:10 PM* 7:30 PM*
ONE WAY FARES:
Adults and children five (5) years of age and older:
Children one to four (1-4) years of age:
ALL DAY UNLIMITED PASS:
Adults and chil'dren five 15) 'ears of age and drier.
Children one to four (1-4) years of age:
$15.00**
$7.50
$30.00**
$15.00
MONTHLY PASS: $95.00 ANNUAL PASS: $295.00
*From Jure I to August 31 only
**Ask us about special rates for Miami Beach residents
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, VISIT: WWW.WATERTAXIMIAMI.COM
f
MiAty
TAXI.. .
Attachment pg 2/2
;Si QUIERE RECORRER LA
CIUDAD 0 SIMPLEMENTE
LLEGAR A SU DESTINO,
AHORA USTED PUEDE
DISFRUTAR SU FIN DE
SEMANA PASEANDO
EN UN TAXI ACUATICO!
;BIENVENIDOS
A BORDO!
SEA ISLE
MARINA
BAYSIDE
MARKETPLACE
PURDY
AVENUE
DOCK
MIAMI
BEACH
MARINA
HORARIO DE
OPERACIONES:
Viernes a domingo, usando un
buque para 38 pasajeros con
capacidad para bicicletas.
Bayside
Marketplace
10:45 AM
12:15 PM
1:45 PM
3:15 PM
4:45 PM
Miami Beach
Marina
Purdy Ave Sea Isle
Dock Marina
11:20 AM
12:50 PM
2:20 PM
11:40 AM
1:10 PM
2:40 PM
12:00 PM
1:30 PM
3:00 PM
3:50 PM
5:20 PM
4:10 PM
5:40 PM
4:30 PM
6:00 PM
6:30 PM*
6:50 PM*
7:10 PM*
7:30 PM*
TARIFAS DE IDA SOLAMENTE:
Adultos y ninos de cinco (5) alias de edad en adelante:
Ninos de uno a cuatro (1-4) arias de edad:
PASE DIARIO ILIMITADO:
Adultos y nines de cinco 151, anos de edad en edekinte:
Ninos de uno a cuatro (1-4) anos de edad:
PASE MENSUAL: $95.00
*Del 1 de /unio al 31 de agosto solamente
* *Pregl;ltenos sobre los precios especiales para residentes de Miami Beach
$15.00**
$7.50
$30.00**
$15.00
PASE ANUAL: $295.00
PARA MAS INFORMACION, VISITE: WWW.WATERTAXIMIAMI.COM
MWee
MIAM U AC,H