Miami Beach is making it easier for locals and visitors to hit the shores and explore other destinations by launching a free commuter water taxi service that connects the city with downtown Miami.
After a successful run among tens of thousands of Art Basel attendees for two straight years, City Commission voted to approve an agreement with Water Taxi of Fort Lauderdale LLC to operate a permanent route. It aims to help to ease traffic congestion and provide an efficient mode of transit.
Set to begin on January 20, 2026, the 40-foot vessels will run Monday through Friday between Venetian Marina & Yacht Club (Downtown Miami) and Maurice Gibb Memorial Park (Sunset Harbour). A press release notes that the service will not initially operate on weekends.
Here is the schedule:
- 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Vessels operate every 60 minutes.
- 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Vessels operate every 30 minutes.
“l’ve been actively working to bring a free water taxi system to Miami Beach — a game-changing initiative that can alleviate traffic congestion through cleaner more efficient transit,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner in a statement. “It’s an exciting time to move forward with mobility projects that truly improve the quality of life for our residents and visitors.”…