WORLD CITIES CURRENTLY OPERATING WATER TAXIS

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Miami (Brickell Avenue)
New York City (Manhattan)
Chicago
Seattle (King County)
Baltimore
Charleston, South Carolina
Washington, D.C. (Potomac River)
Boston
Oklahoma City (Bricktown)
Hobart, Tasmania
Sydney, Autralia

I was pleased to see that you have brought the value of water taxis to the attention of the public and, in particular,of the Tampa Bay Partnership through your graduate studies.
You may or may not be aware of a 31-page study on the subject produced a few years ago, by a professional consulting firm for, I believe, Sarasota County.
I have a copy of this study in my Documents File, and could get a copy to you if you are interested.

Secondly, I have written a (probably all too long) 52-page White Paper on a Tampa Bay Maritime Institute, whose mission is to establish and improve maritime education (in a broad sense) that would utilize the many positive aspects of Tampa Bay’s locations and assets to fill the gap caused by the Federal Maritime Administration’s sudden closing of the Continuing Education arm of the U S Maritime Academy at Kings Point, NY. This is taking place at a critical time in our economic and educational efforts.

If you think that you may be interested, I will mail you a copy by U.S. Postal Service, given a good mailing address for your study.
My Taxi Service suggests the evolution of a water taxi into a true on-call ferry service that would link the many powerful maritime interests in Tampa Bay, including the burgeoning marine science complex at the southern tip of St. Petersburg. It probably should extend all the way down to Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, to make it a true regional Alternative Transportation Service.
The technology is there, the need is there —- and growing — and the initialization effort is simple and easily accomplished.
I am retired from academic life and I am quite familiar with the latent, and often badly-utilized, power of the university. I am setting down my contact info below for your use as you see fit . Best wishes in your studies; I applaud your choice of subject matter and your approach.

Hal P.

My contact information :

Harold Nils Pelta, J.D.
Maritime Systems Network
P O Box 208
Ellenton, FL 34222