Traffic congestion on Fort Myers Beach has reached a critical point. Residents and visitors routinely face wait times exceeding two hours for trips that should take minutes. In response, the town’s Marine Environmental Resource Task Force is exploring a water taxi system as a viable alternative to overwhelmed road infrastructure.
The Marine Environmental Resource Task Force (MERTF), an advisory council that makes recommendations to the town’s council on environmental and public good initiatives, has proposed implementing a water taxi service to provide residents and visitors with an efficient transportation alternative that leverages the island’s waterways. Before moving forward, the town is seeking community input to determine whether there is sufficient public interest and to understand what features would best serve island needs.
Addressing documented traffic challenges
Traffic congestion has become a defining challenge for Fort Myers Beach. During the 2025-2026 season, backups across the Matanzas Pass Bridge have regularly extended for miles, with some drivers reporting wait times exceeding two hours for trips of just three miles. Beach access between 9 a.m. and noon has become particularly problematic, while infrastructure issues—including a traffic light at Fifth Street and Old San Carlos Boulevard that remained inoperative for months—have compounded delays.
A water taxi system would provide an alternative transportation corridor that bypasses road congestion entirely, offering residents and visitors waterborne transit between key destinations. This approach leverages the island’s natural geography while reducing dependence on overwhelmed road infrastructure.
Community input through public survey
The town will issue a comprehensive survey to gauge public interest in a water taxi system. This survey represents a critical step in determining whether the community supports this transportation alternative and what specific features would provide the greatest value…