Waterborne Transportation

 
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Overview

Very few downtowns have the benefit of being located on water bodies as beautiful and varied as Biscayne Bay and the Miami River. The number of existing streets that terminate at the water, along with large areas of public parks and river/bay walks located along the water’s edge allow for many points of access to the water as well as a variety of uses, activities and views along it.

To that end, the Miami DDA has been collaborating with agency partners to implement a waterborne transportation system as a tourist draw and as an alternate mode of transportation for Downtown residents and businesses. We envision a viable water taxi, water bus and/or ferry to link Downtown to other major waterfront destinations, such as Adrienne Arsht Center, Bayfront Park, Brickell, Margaret Pace Park, Maurice A. Ferré Park, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), Watson Island, the Venetian Marina, the Port of Miami, and points of interest along the Miami River.

In March 2024, the he Board of Directors of the Miami DDA approved a resolution of support directing the Miami DDA staff to work with the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County to: (1) Apply for and obtain class 1 Permits and/or Marine Operating Permits (MOPs) for water taxi stops at preferred sites (see map below); (2) Monitor Miami Dade County's Division of Environmental Resource Management (DERM) changes to the Manatee Protection Plan (MPP) to ensure water taxi stops are allowed at certain important areas; and (3) Draft a model ordinance for regulation/certification of water taxi operators.

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Master Plan Goals

  • 2.4 Improve Inland Connections to Waterfront
  • 2.5 Activate Waterfront by Providing Greater Daytime Dockage Opportunities
  • 4.5 Connect and Promote Downtown Parks, Open Space and Greenways
  • 2.7 Develop a Waterborne Transportation System Linking Downtown to Major Waterfront Destinations
  • 5.0 Promote Transit and Regional Connectivity
  • 5.1 Rebalance Roadways Towards Transit, Pedestrians, and Cyclists
  • 5.2 Promote Neighborhood-Level Transit
  • 5.4 Promote Regional-Level Commuter Transit such as SFEC Corridor, Tri-Rail, and High-Speed Rail
  • 5.6 Support Transit with Car Sharing Services, Bike Rentals, Pedicabs, and Other Creative Mobility Solutions

Free Miami Beach Water Taxi

On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the City of Miami Beach launched a free, commuter water taxi service connecting Miami Beach and Downtown Miami. This new service offers a scenic, sustainable, and convenient alternative to driving across Biscayne Bay. Each vessel is approximately 40 feet long and designed to comfortably carry up to 55 passengers, making your commute not only efficient but enjoyable. 

The free Water Taxi operates between Maurice Gibb Memorial Park in Miami Beach (18thStreet & Purdy Avenue) and the Venetian Marina & Yacht Club (formerly Sea Isle Marina, 1635 N Bayshore Drive). The Water Taxi operates on Weekdays from 7 AM to 4:30 PM, every 60 minutes, and from 4:30 to 7:30 PM every 30 minutes. There is no weekend service during the initial launch.For more information, click here:Miami Beach Watertransport

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Passengers arriving on mainland Miami can request additional mobility connections via our On-Demand Circulator with Freebee: https://ridefreebee.com/service-areas/downtown-brickell

Next Steps

The Miami DDA’s goal is to build off of the existing Miami Beach service and extend connections to popular Baywalk and Riverwalk destinations. We are currently working with the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County to apply for and obtain Class 1 Permits and/or Marine Operating Permits (MOPs) for water taxi locations shown on the above map.

 

 

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