New water taxi enhances connectivity in Manatee County

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

The newly launched water taxi service, linking the Bradenton Riverwalk to Anna Maria Island, is seeing varied success, heavily influenced by the weather conditions, as explained by Elliott Falcione, the county’s tourism director, during a meeting with the Manatee County Tourist Development Council. On sunny, calm days, the service operates at full capacity, transporting between 360 to 380 passengers, which translates to reducing the number of cars on the road by about 180 to 190 daily. However, the service faces challenges on less favorable days, with 22 days this year already seeing cancellations due to bad weather, preventing around 7,000 passengers from using the water taxi.

Falcione highlighted the need for a more weather-resilient vessel to complement the current fleet of two 50-foot open-air catamarans, Miss Anna Maria and Downtown Duchess. He suggested that a larger, enclosed boat could operate under various weather conditions and ensure passengers remain dry. The tourist advisory board, agreeing with this assessment, has recommended that the Manatee County Commission approve the acquisition of such a boat. Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown supported the expansion, emphasizing the connectivity it brings between cities and the financial benefit of not burdening local citizens.

The proposed enclosed boat, which would have a capacity of between 100 and 150 passengers and cost approximately $2.8 million, is seen as a crucial addition to the current fleet, each of which cost about $450,000. The county commission’s approval could see the new boat delivered within a year.

The water taxi currently makes stops at several key locations including the Bradenton Riverwalk, Anna Maria City Pier, and the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach. Plans are underway to expand the service to include stops at the south Coquina Beach boat ramp and near the Mar Vista and Shore restaurants on Longboat Key this fall, with another potential stop near the Palmetto Estuary Nature Preserve scheduled for early next year.

Falcione also mentioned that about 40% of the water taxi’s riders are visitors from outside Florida, underscoring its appeal to tourists. The addition of a third boat could further benefit the local tourism and hospitality sectors by offering free rides to hospitality workers commuting from the mainland to island businesses, potentially alleviating traffic congestion.

« Back to Page

• Royalton CHIC Antigua Welcomes Guests to a New Era of All-Inclusive Excellence

• GF Hotels & Resorts declares promotion of three eminent personalities

• GF Hotels & Resorts Appoints Anthony White As The New Executive Vice President

• Oetker Collection Welcomes Emanuela Setterberg Di Vivo as Managing Director of The Vineta, Its First North American Masterpiece Hotel

• America’s first passive house hotel is ideal for NYC getaways