Another water taxi service with a few new stops

[blizz01]

Seems to me like the Zoo needs to be on someone's short list.  On a side note, I was told by Zoo employees that if you travel by boat (your own) and dock, admission is always free!  That makes for a neat experience.

From the Times Union:

City, Park Service plan water transport
The S.S. Marine Taxi, well known for taking passengers along the St. Johns River downtown, may soon have company in the area.

Jacksonville officials are moving forward with plans to offer another water taxi service north of Jacksonville, and the National Park Service plans to offer a river ferry in the same area.
Earlier this week, Jacksonville City Council approved the construction of a state-funded water taxi station on the Alimacani Boat Ramp on Heckscher Drive near the Alimacani RV Park. The city plans to taxi people from the boat ramp to docks at Kingsley Plantation, Sisters Creek Marina and Fort Caroline.
The National Park Service is planning to start up a ferry that would transport people to some of the same locations. The city and park service are discussing ways the ferry and the water taxi can use the same facilities.

Neither the city nor the Park Service is sure when service will begin. And both are unsure of what the water routes will be or what hours the service will operate.

The water taxi station will include dock facilities, parking areas, lighting, walkways, restrooms and administrative offices. It will cost about $550,000 to build and is scheduled to be ready by the end of 2009. The city has a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to build the taxi station.
A private contractor will likely operate the water taxi service, similar to the deal the city has with S.S. Marine Taxi, which uses 40- to 50-seat ferries to take people around downtown to places such as The Jacksonville Landing and Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Jacksonville City Councilman Ray Holt, whose district includes the area where the water taxi station will be built, predicted the new water taxi would attract tourists and residents to the area.
The area around the water taxi station already offers kayaking and has several public parks, such as Little Talbot Island and Big Talbot Island. It's a natural fit for people who want to park their car and take a water taxi to other parts of the area, Holt said.

Nathan Rezeau, chief of waterfront management at the city's parks department, said the city got a grant from FDOT in 2005 to build the water taxi station. A feasibility study determined the Alimacani Boat Ramp was the best place for the water taxi station because the alternatives were too shallow.
The city is designing the water taxi station and expects to begin construction as soon as the design is complete.

Barbara Goodman, a superintendent of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve with the National Park Service, said a river ferry was in the long-term plans of the park service.

The ferry won't go to Alimacani because the water is shallow there, and the ferry the park service will offer is much bigger than the city's water taxi. But the ferry will probably go to the other locations.
About 60,000 visitors come to Kingsley each year and those people would be interested in taking a river tour of the area, Goodman said, pointing to a 2003 study that predicted 230,000 people would take the ferry in its first year of operation with a 2.5 percent growth in ridership each year after that.

[Jason]

More connectivity is always a good thing, IMO.

[sheclown]

What wonderful news!  I adore water taxis.  Baltimore has such a dynamic river with water taxis shooting across the river taking commuters to and fro -- no one minds the length of the commute when you are on the water.  So water taxis don't have to be just for the tourists! 

It is also a romantic date -- water taxis to a nice restaurant.  Cuddle in the cool air on the way back. Oh Yeah.

I'm excited for our river. 

[ProjectMaximus]

What wonderful news!  I adore water taxis.  Baltimore has such a dynamic river with water taxis shooting across the river taking commuters to and fro -- no one minds the length of the commute when you are on the water.  So water taxis don't have to be just for the tourists! 

It is also a romantic date -- water taxis to a nice restaurant.  Cuddle in the cool air on the way back. Oh Yeah.

I'm excited for our river. 

Yeah, it sounds awesome. are you waiting for me to ask you out, sheclown?

[Jason]

A MetroJacksonville.com dating service.... here to help!

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

Ive been known to ride on the water taxis quite frequently actually. They are especially useful during Jags games, so yippeee for more connections.

[thelakelander]

We need to find a way to get this NPS water taxi system connected with the zoo and downtown area.  This could be a good way to enhance our tourism industry by taking advantage of what we already have.  I think it may also be pretty unique to our region.  How many cities in the South have a river that directly connects a zoo, downtown, historic urban neighborhoods, a shrimping center, college, beach, plantation, a 16th century fort and an ecological preserve together?

On top of that, throw in a commuter rail line between the airport, downtown and St. Augustine and you've basically created a completely different atmosphere with assets already in place.

[blizz01]

Isn't the Zoo in close proximity to the new locations mentioned?  Wonder what that would take.  The Landing/Crowne Plaza/Hyatt would be great spots to embark with proper signage, etc.

[copperfiend]

I wonder if we could get those duck boats. Most large cities with waterfronts have them.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

you mean like these in Orlando?

[blizz01]

Ha - No, this -



Sort of tacky but who cares, really.........

[Jason]

I don't think you want the swans downtown.  The current is way to swift to get back to where you came from.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

I think it would be awesome watching people try to paddle those things through the St. Johns, LOL. Great workout!

[Doctor_K]

We need to find a way to get this NPS water taxi system connected with the zoo and downtown area.  This could be a good way to enhance our tourism industry by taking advantage of what we already have.  I think it may also be pretty unique to our region.  How many cities in the South have a river that directly connects a zoo, downtown, historic urban neighborhoods, a shrimping center, college, beach, plantation, a 16th century fort and an ecological preserve together?

On top of that, throw in a commuter rail line between the airport, downtown and St. Augustine and you've basically created a completely different atmosphere with assets already in place.

Brilliant as usual.  Lakelander for Mayor anyone?   

[civil42806]

I wonder if we could get those duck boats. Most large cities with waterfronts have them.

St. Johns current would probably be a little swift for those things.  But lots of rescues out at the jetties for entertainment