LTC 421-2017 Water Taxi Pilot Program Quarterly Report (FY 2017MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 421-2017
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Mem
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: August 15, 2017
SUBJECT: WATER TAXI PILOT
LE ER TO COMMISSION
the City Co mission
RTERLY REPORT (FY 2017 3RD QUARTER)
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to report on the progress of a public waterborne
transportation services (water taxi) pilot program including ridership figures for the third quarter of
Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, from April 1, 2017 to June 30, 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. Attached please
find a flyer which depicts the current water taxi route, schedule, and fares.
During Quarter 3 of FY17, 38 tickets were sold at Purdy Avenue Dock as compared to 78 tickets
sold at Purdy Avenue Dock during Quarter 2 of FY17. The total number of passenger boardings at
Purdy Avenue Dock was 38 as compared to 79 during Quarter 2. The total number of passengers
disembarking at Purdy Avenue Dock was 79 as compared to 154 during Quarter 2. The majority of
the passengers boarding at Purdy Avenue Dock (36 out of 38) had Bayside Marketplace as their
destination. All passengers who disembarked at Purdy Avenue Dock originated from Bayside
Marketplace. The total number of passengers using water taxi service during the 3rd Quarter of FY17
traveling to or from Purdy Avenue Dock was 117.
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 the total number of tickets sold at Purdy
Avenue Dock pursuant to the water taxi pilot program, the Concessionaire is subject to a $35.25
surcharge during the 3rd Quarter. The Transportation Department is in the process of invoicing the
Concessionaire for this amount.
From an operational perspective, periodic site inspections conducted by the Transportation
Department staff have determined that the Concessionaire is in violation of various terms of the
Agreement. For example, during site inspections conducted on June 16 and June 30, 2017 at Purdy
Avenue Dock, it was determined that the vendor did not provide service at 11:40 AM as per the
arrival schedule specified in the Agreement. Additionally, pursuant to the Agreement, service shall
be operated using a 38 passenger vessel. Site inspections conducted by the Transportation
Department staff on June 30, 2017 determined that the service was being operated using a small six
(6) passenger vessel. Further, pursuant to the Agreement, the Concessionaire shall hire an
employee to be stationed at or near the Concession Area at Purdy Avenue Dock, whose
LTC- Water Taxi Pilot Program
August 9, 2017
Page 2
responsibility is to provide on-site monitoring and oversight of the Pilot Program. Site inspections
conducted by the Transportation Department staff on April 21, May 12, June 16, and June 30, 2017,
as well as two inspections conducted during the previous quarter, determined that the
Concessionaire is not providing the required monitoring and oversight.
As a result of reported incidents above, a Contractor Incident Report was issued to the
Concessionaire on July 7, 2017. While the Concessionaire committed to providing service using the
required 38 passenger vessel depicted in the Agreement and during specified times, as of today, the
Concessionaire has not provided on-site monitoring and oversight at Purdy Avenue Dock.
Additionally, recent inspections performed in the last two weeks have determined that the
Concessionaire is not in compliance with the required 7:10 PM scheduled arrival time.
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 construction of the new dock and kayak launch is anticipated to be completed in early 2018. At
that time, the Administration would recommend that a new solicitation be issued for commuter -based
public waterborne transportation services.
The County is currently working on updating a 2006 feasibility study on waterborne transportation
solutions, including a plan for 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.
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 a 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.
Attac eennt: Water Taxi Service Plan flyers (English and Spanish)
JLM/KG 77RG/01
F:\TRAN\$ALL\LTC\LTCB Transit\LTC - Miami Beach Water Taxi Pilot Program Q3.docx
Attachmei
WELCOME
ABOARD!
SEA ISLE
MARINA
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WHETHER TOURING THE
CITY OR JUST GETTING
AROUND TOWN, NOW
YOU CAN COAST INTO
THE WEEKEND ON
A WATER TAXI!
MWM"
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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, VISIT: WWW.WATERTAXIMIAMI.COM
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SEA ISLE
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ISI QUIERE RECORRER LA
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LLEGAR A SU DESTINO,
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PURDY
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MIAMI
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PARA MAS INFORMACION, VISITE: WWW.WATERTAXIMIAMI.COM
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