06 water-based transportation - final draft … transportation t reasure c oastr egional p lanning c...

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T R E A S U R E C O A S T R E G I O N A L P L A N N I N G C O U N C I LI n d i a n R i v e r - S t . L u c i e - M a r t i n - P a l m B e a c h

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Water-based transportation is the foundation of the ICW. Usage of the waterway almost exclusivelyrefers to some form of transportation whether it be for motorcraft or private kayaks, the migration ofmanatees, or the heavy industrial operations at the Port of Palm Beach. Public input during the charrettereaffirmed this with requests for increased and improved access via boat launch sites, development ofwater transit services, development of water-dependent destinations, expansion of vessel serviceamenities, further development of marine-related industries, and overall transportation corridor systempreservation. These areas of interest were underpinned with the need for environmental protection andoverall preservation of quality of life for surrounding communities.

This chapter provides an overview of water-based transportation along the Intracoastal Waterway inPalm Beach County. It identifies opportunities presented by the waterway, the users and the economicsbehind those users, and the relationships the ICW has with other water-based businesses as well as theregion. The potential for water taxi service is analyzed extensively, with an overview of existing services,conceptual operating program, and an array of existing, pending, and recommended water taxi stops inPalm Beach County. High-speed ferry service from the Port of Palm Beach is also analyzed, and a seriesof recommendations are provided regarding waterborne transportation services, functions, and theirrelationship with the upland.

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The ICW is a mixed-use transportation corridor inPalm Beach County used by commercial andrecreational boaters sailing in large ships and smallboats as well as freight carriers operating barges. Theentire length of the corridor extends from north ofJacksonville south to Key West, a total of 370 miles.The portion of the ICW in Palm Beach County is 43miles long. This federally-maintained waterwayprovides between 7 and 15 feet of water depth;however, ongoing dredging programs aim to keep thewaterway north of Miami at its federally authorizeddepth of twelve feet.

Maintaining and preserving the ICW is critical for thefuture prosperity of water-based activities. It isimportant that the needs of all users be balanced andintegrated – from recreational kayakers to water taxisto megayacht service facilities to large ships movingcargo through the Port of Palm Beach. Keyopportunities for use of the ICW include thefollowing:

•Develop an Expanded Water Taxi System.Water taxi service has the potential to improveregional mobility, especially for special eventsand weekend activities, by providing a qualityof life enhancement for County residents andvisitors. Water taxis could also complementon-going economic development activities,particularly within the marina villages along thewaterway, and become integrated into land-based transit. This would enable County watertaxis to become consistent with current watertaxi services across Florida which primarilyoffer slow speed service focused onentertainment and tourism markets.Waterborne commuter service is intriguing asa mechanism to relieve landside congestionand provide new alternatives to commutersthat live and work along the ICW; however,effective commuter service would be moredifficult to develop, given the area’s lineargeography and environmental constraints.Further market analysis is required to identifykey routes and stations.

• Develop High Speed Passenger Ferry Service.There is potential for ferry service to traversebetween the Palm Beach County area anddestinations such as Ft. Lauderdale, Miami,Key West, and the Bahamas. The Port ofPalm Beach has provided this type of servicein the past, but high costs and low demandterminated the service. Additional marketanalysis should be completed to identify newservice opportunities.

• Support Port of Palm Beach Growth. ThePort has long been the industrial hub of theICW in Palm Beach County. While the Porthas expansion constraints, it continues tostrive for growth opportunities. It is criticalthat the ICW be developed in a way as to notinfringe on Port operations and growth.

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Intracoastal-based water taxi services today in Palm BeachCounty, such as the vessel pictured above (operating in NorthPalm Beach) or below (operating in Riviera Beach), typicallyoffer sightseeing cruises and, less frequently, transit accessfor special waterfront events like Sunfest in West Palm Beach.


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• Improve Megayacht Capacity. Palm BeachCounty is home to a significant boatingindustry. However, it currently struggles toserve the largest of yachts due to waterwaydepth. An effective dredging program couldprovide the region with significant economicdevelopment opportunities in this industry.

The development of water-dependent activity centersthroughout the corridor will be critical to the successof the above opportunities. Marine villages, watersideservices, preservation of industrial lands, and landsideconnections will all drive the demand for and use ofwater services.

Use of the Intracoastal Waterway

The ICW is home to a variety of commercial andrecreational users. According to the U.S. Army Corpsof Engineers (USACE), in 2006 the Intracoastalcarried 234,000 tons of cargo from Jacksonville toMiami including 227,000 tons of petroleum. Thepetroleum is often moved by barge on the waterwayproviding service to specific industrial hubs. Thedelivery of the fuel is usually to power plants alongthe waterway.

Recreational traffic is the most dominant user of theICW, including personal watercraft (both motorizedand non-motorized), water taxis, and excursionservices, along with more limited megayacht traffic.Many marine industries, marinas, and yacht clubsalong the waterway provide essential services to theserecreational vessels. Charrette participants echoed awish of the marine industry to broaden the ICW’srole in megayacht maintenance and servicing, coiningthe term “megayacht mile” for the mile-long stretchof upland near the Lake Worth inlet. This sentimentcomplements the on-going plans to expanddeepwater access in this area near the Port of PalmBeach to reinforce ongoing investments in themegayacht service industry.

Currently, access of the largest of vessels is restrictedby water depth. While deepwater access directly tothe Port is available, deepwater access to otherportions of the upland is greatly limited.Improvements in the water infrastructure will expandthe range of vessels that can be served and expandthe upland area megayachts can access, strengtheningthe overall marine industry in Palm Beach County.Vessels currently access facilities via a route outsidethe designated channel due to waterway conditions.

The Port of Palm Beach, the largest transportationhub along Palm Beach County’s portion of the ICW,is home to the majority of cargo moving along thiscorridor. Approximately four million tons of cargomoved through the Port in 2006. Other cargoservices are limited to infrequent barge traffic servingspecified customers. The Port is also home to limitedpassenger vessel operations providing gamblingexcursions. Although other passenger vessel serviceshave existed in the past, they are no longer operatingdue to high operating costs and limited demand forthe service.

Also frequent on the ICW are the smaller motorboats and non-motorized water craft, such as canoesand kayaks. In addition to the aesthetic beauty, fun,and relaxation these users receive, their use of thewaterway contributes to the economic vitality andviability for water-based transportation.

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The user base of the Intracoastal is widely varied, includingeverything from small watercraft to large freight vesselsaccessing the Port of Palm Beach.



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Seven water taxi services were identified as on-goingin Palm Beach County. Most provide leisure andentertainment excursions as opposed to high-speedtransit services for commuters. For example, thePalm Beach Water Taxi provides shuttle service toevents and attractions in Palm Beach County such asPeanut Island, Downtown West Palm Beach, andCityPlace. Water taxis also provide access toshopping, dining, and other entertainment venues.The Peanut Island Water Taxi is another serviceproviding access to a recreational destination.

Ferry services usually provide high-speed passengrservice to more distant destinations. Thistransportation option provides an alternative to theoften overcrowded airports and highways fordestinations that are accessible by boat. For example,the Key West Express, which operates out of Ft.Myers on Florida’s west coast, provides direct,roundtrip, high-speed service to Key West from Ft.Myers and Marco Island. To be successful,waterborne services must match or exceed theservices provided by land-based transportationoptions. While there has been high-speed boatpassenger service from Palm Beach County to theBahamas in the past, this service is no longer availabledue to costs and lack of demand.

Another user of the waterway that must be accountedfor when considering water-based transportation isthe manatee. The presence of manatees slows thespeed of all watercraft through speed zonerestrictions that can hinder the flow of traffic on thewaterway. This large water mammal should beconsidered in planning for water-basedtransportation, and maps identifying manatee zonespeed restrictions are included in this section forreference (see Palm Beach County ManateeProtection Plan for more detail).

Finally, waterway conditions related to derelict vesselsshould be noted as an impediment to navigation onthe waterway. Typically outside the channel,inoperable vessels exist throughout Palm Beach

County, typically concentrated near unregulatedmoorings and in shallow areas. Ownership andremoval of these vessels is difficult, rendering thema navigational hazard as well as environmental andaesthetic burden on the waterway.

Economic Impact of Water-Related Activities

The use of the ICW contributes to the County’seconomy both commercially and recreationally.According to a 2006 study by FIND, there were 127charter boat rentals and 30 Port tenants in PalmBeach County. The economic output for thiscommercial activity totaled $503.8 Millionencompassing 3,660 jobs with total personal incomesequal to $161.9 Million. In addition to these jobactivities are the many dimensions of recreationalboating activity. Palm Beach County has more than38,000 registered boats, generating approximately605,000 boating trips yearly. For 2006, FINDestimated the County’s economic output forrecreational activity to be $1.42 Billion, including12,510 jobs with total personal income of $512million. Overall, FIND’s data indicates the ICWyields nearly $2 Billion in total economic output forPalm Beach County, with 16,505 jobs generating $688Million in personal income attributed to waterborne

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Palm Beach County recently finalized its Manatee ProtectionPlan, which includes identified speed zone restrictions(highlighted in the maps above) to protect this native species.


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activity. This economic data speaks to the importanceof this transportation corridor and to the need tokeep it maintained. These and other economicanalyses are comprehensively detailed in Chapter IX,Economics of the Intracoastal, located later in thisreport.

Impacts of Landside Infrastructure

The make-up of the communities bordering and inclose proximity to the ICW plays a critical role indefining the demands placed upon the waterway. Theestablishment of marina villages and othercommercial venues, marinas, dry docks, servicefacilities, eco-tourism destinations/parks, residentialcommunities, and heavy industry in large part dictatethe transportation services demanded along the ICWas well as the impacts of potential future uses.Development of a comprehensive water taxi systemwould require land and docks for stations andparking, transit connectivity, and sufficient density toattract riders who want to travel north or south toanother activity center. Several water taxi servicesalready exist in Palm Beach County but not to theextent that they can fully link all destinations on theentire 43 miles. The mobility of visitors andcommuters along the ICW is directly related to theability to conveniently access water-basedtransportation services. In addition, the marinavillages and other destinations must have adequateland-based roadway and transit connections for thetransportation system as a whole to functionseamlessly.

Currently, land-based activity centers drive theeconomy of eastern Palm Beach County. When themarina villages described in this report are accessibleboth waterside and landside, they will have greaterpotential to generate economic growth and spendingrelated to marine activities. As mentioned earlier, theoverwhelming majority of marine-related jobs(12,510) are attributed to recreational boating in theCounty. Most of the direct and indirect spendingassociated with marine-related businesses happens at

marina villages or en route to destinations accessedby water. Forging strong connections between water-based transportation, marina villages, and othermarine destinations will strengthen the overalleconomy in Palm Beach County. The map aboveshows the density of marine-related industry locatedalong the ICW in Palm Beach County.

It is important to understand the transportationimpacts that will be generated by each component ofthe ICW plan. The creation of marina villages,growth of the port facility, increase in public access,

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The above map indicates the locations of marine-relatedbusinesses in Palm Beach County, along with keyinfrastructure facilities. While the majority of marinebusinesses are clustered along the Intracoastal, they arenonetheless scattered throughout inland Palm Beach Countyas well.

Marine-Related Businesses



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and continued restoration and preservation activitieswill continue to impact and challenge transportationalternatives as well as demand more from waterbornetransportation. The ultimate purpose of this chapteris to lay out key transportation considerations as theplan takes shape. On an organizational note, accessto the ICW is critical to the success of travel of thewaterway. The ICW attracts many types of users tothe waterway from kayaks to megayachts tocommercial barges. While large ships and barges usethe Lake Worth Inlet to access the Port of PalmBeach, recreational boaters use local marinas, boatramps, and anchorages to gain the access they needto traverse the waterway. As noted in the introductionto this report, there were six main themes identifiedby charrette participants, which led to the report’sorganization. Accordingly, boating facilities thatcorrelate to commercial boating activity, includingwater taxis, ferries, and the Port of Palm Beach, areincluded in this chapter. The remaining facilities,including public marinas, public boat ramps, andcanoe/kayak access points, are included in ChapterIV (Public Access).

Water-Based Passenger Transportation

The Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Beach Countyoffers a rich opportunity for water-based passengertransportation. In addition to private vessels, thereare two general forms of passenger transit: water taxisand ferries. Water taxis offer public transportationusually in an urban environment, but they can provideaccess to natural destinations as well. Operatingschedules for water taxis can vary, with someoperating on a demand basis (like traditional taxis)while others provide scheduled service at multiplestops (similar to traditional bus service). In NorthAmerica, the terms water taxi and water bus aregenerally used synonymously. A boat service thatshuttles passengers between two points andsometimes goes farther distances at higher speeds istypically referred to a ferry. The following section provides an overview andanalysis of water taxis and ferries and a summary of

the types of services currently provided in PalmBeach County.

Water Taxis

Waterborne transportation services can offer analternative to congested roadways, automobileparking constraints, crowded land-based transit, andan opportunity to travel leisurely and reach waterdestinations that are otherwise inaccessible. Floridais home to several water taxi services, each with itsown niche market and varying level of success. Someof these include Palm Beach Water Taxi, Water Taxiof the Palm Beaches, Fort Lauderdale’s Water Bus,Jacksonville’s Marine Taxi, and New Smyrna Beach’sWater Taxi. Each of these services was generallyreviewed and analyzed as part of this plan, and detailsrelevant to each are summarized in the graphics inthis section.

Development of a successful waterborne servicerequires consideration of many variables. Among thekey guidelines to consider are the following:

• Identify the right technology• Provide the ability to compare to other

service initiatives• Define a competitive service• Identify and address key connectivity and

accessibility issues• Quantify the market demand• Build regional support• Differentiate services from other competing

services• Integrate service into regional transportation

system

In addition to the general guidelines listed above thatare applicable to all transit services, it is important tounderstand some of the conditions that facilitatemore specifically the development of a successfulwater taxi service, as described below:

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Water taxis, such as those pictured above,can function as a component of the overall transportationnetwork in a community or region as well as offereconomic enhancement as a tourist venue.

In areas like the northeast, with peninsulas and bays, high-speed, operating conditions, and high-density populationpatterns that congest traditional transportation networks,services like New Jersey’s Seastreak fast ferry service operateroutinely as part of the transit network.SOURCE: http://www.seastreak.com

The geography of downtown Jacksonville lends itself well toits local water taxi operation, which ferries passengers amonghotels, restaurants, and Jacksonville’s mixed-use Riverwalkproject.

In central Florida, a multi-city water taxi operates between NewSmyrna Beach and Inlet Harbor, offering mostly sightseeingtours of the area.



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Washington State’s Department of Transportation operates anfar-reaching water ferry service, as indicated on the route mapabove, that provides significant service including connectionsinto Canada.SOURCE: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries

Based in Riviera Beach, the Palm Beach Water Taxi offers themost extensive water service currently in Palm Beach County,including water taxi service to Peanut Island and downtownWest Palm Beach as well as sightseeing tours and charters. Itis based in Riviera Beach at Sailfish Marina.

Operating out of Panama Hattie’s restaurant in North PalmBeach, the Water Taxi of the Palm Beaches offers primarilysightseeing tours on the ICW. This location is part of the “PGA4 Corners” marina village recommended for the unique areawhere all four corners of the PGA/Intracoastal intersection arecommercially properties.

Fort Lauderdale has maintained a water taxi operation formore than two decades, supported by its dense urbandevelopment pattern, seasonal influx of tourists, andconsistent service schedule.


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• Captive Markets. The most profitableservices are located where there is marketdemand. This is true of any customer-oriented service and especially true withtransit services. In the waterbornetransportation environment, this is bestprovided by captive populations that have noother transportation alternative, such asisland communities. This may also apply totransit destinations that are difficult to accessby other forms of transportation such asaccessing a waterfront event like Sunfest withlimited upland parking and constrainedroadways during the event.

• Revenue Collection. Another factor toconsider is the collection of fare boxrevenues. Generally, fare box revenues frompassenger-only commuter services do notcover operating costs. In many cases, arecovery of only 40 to 60 percent is typicalof waterborne and other premium transitservices like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

• Multiple Sailings. Multiple sailings areessential for customers. Commuters needflexibility in the scheduled sailings especiallyto accommodate work arrival and departuretimes. They need to have the assurance ofknowing that if they miss one boat, there willbe another one operating on a reliableschedule.

• Direct Routes. The most competitivepassenger services are those that cut mileageand travel time. This provides the most directroute for the passenger and efficientmovement of the vessel. Services that runparallel to established highway corridorsstruggle to provide equal or superior service.

• Vessel Speed. Most waterbornetransportation services tend to run a mix of

vessel types operating between 15 and 35knots. Obviously, the faster the vessel, themore attractive the ride; however, the speedcomes at a price. The faster vessels require asignificant increase in capital and operatingcosts, and environmental constraints such asthe presence of endangered species canrequire slower speed zones.

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Waterfront special events and festivals, such as West PalmBeach’s annual Sunfest which draws nearly 300,000attendees for this week-long event, create strong markets forall forms of transit, including water taxis.

In downtown Delray Beach, Delray Beach Cruises (kioskpictured above) offers sightseeing trips on the Intracoastalthroughout the year. Their service is walking distance tohistoric downtown Delray Beach, which includes a wide arrayof residential, retail, restaurant, and hotel facilities as well assettings for public events and festivals.



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regional bus, BRT, Tri-Rail, and potentiallyFEC corridor transit).

• Quality of Destination. For any transitservice to be successful, the quality ofdestinations, including mix of uses, landdevelopment patterns, walkability, andpersonal safety, is a key factor in attractingusers. Waterborne transportation requiresdestinations of sufficient critical mass towarrant access by taxi. If the variety of usesor experiences in a destination is too limited,the passenger service may only be successfulfor special events. This criterion wasconsidered in the evaluation andrecommendation of the marina villagesdescribed in this report.

• Community and Environmental Impacts.The management of community andenvironmental impacts for both land andwater resources is an importantconsideration. Both must be considered andmonitored continuously for waterbornetransportation services to be responsive tothe communities they serve.

• Marketing & Promotions. Transit systemsrequire extensive marketing as well aspromotional activities to raise awareness ofthe system and build ridership. The linearnature of Palm Beach County’s portion ofthe Intracoastal disperses water taxi servicesalong 43 miles, although there are clearconcentrations of service in some locations.Consolidation of information and commonmarketing are mechanisms that areadvantageous for service providers as well asusers, with an organizational entity necessaryto accomplish these activities.

With the strong interest in water taxis expressed bycharrette participants, a preliminary analysis wasconducted to begin to identify a potential water taxisystem in Palm Beach County. Today, there is a

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Sea Fare Water Taxi (pictured above) provides daily serviceto Peanut Island (pictured below), which has become one ofthe County’s strongest recreational destinations sincecompletion of the Island’s rehabilitation and enhancements in2006.

• Landside Connections Strong landsideconnections are essential for successfulservice. For a waterborne transportationservice to be effective, passengers must beable to get to and from the water and theirfinal destination (landside) with ease. Thisgreatly impacts the choice of potential ridersfor this type of service. In addition to thepedestrian quality of destinations, multi-modal access to water taxi stops is a factor.For Palm Beach County, the modes includevehicular, bicycle and pedestrian access, anda wide variety of existing and potential transitservices (local trolley, community bus,


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variety of existing water taxi operations as well as ahandful of water taxi stations that are pending orproposed. Both the current operations as well as thepending locations are discussed below and illustratedin the maps in this section.

There currently are a limited number of commercialmarine transportation services accessible to thegeneral public in Palm Beach County. Most arelimited to sightseeing tours, but a few offer limitedwater taxi-type services. By far, the most developedservice area is in Riviera Beach, in close proximity toPeanut Island and the Port of Palm Beach.Additional operations are currently in place in Jupiter,North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and DelrayBeach. Each of these current facilities tends toprovide sightseeing cruises on the Intracoastal as wellas limited to/from travel during special events. Theexisting services are as follows:

• Buzz Boat Water Taxi Service operates onan as-needed basis primarily in northern andcentral Palm Beach County. It operates oneboat with capacity for fourteen passengersand provides service for special events incoordination with event organizers. Thisservice does not maintain a permanentfacility but utilizes public and private dockagewhen available.

• Manatee Queen, operating at A1A Road inJupiter, offers sightseeing cruises on theIntracoastal. It operates one boat withcapacity for 49 passengers.

• Water Taxi of the Palm Beaches operatesout of Panama Hattie’s restaurant at theintersection of PGA Boulevard and EllisonWilson Road in North Palm Beach. Offeringa variety of sightseeing tours on the ICW, thisservice operates up to four boats daily with acapacity of 27 passengers per boat.

• Palm Beach Water Taxi, operating out of

Sailfish Marina on Lake Drive in Palm BeachShores, provides the most extensive servicecurrently available on the ICW, includingdaily, year-round shuttle service to PeanutIsland and downtown West Palm Beach aswell as a variety of sightseeing tours andcharters. The company operates up to fiveboats with capacity ranging from twenty to49 passengers per boat.

• Peanut Island Water Taxi operates out ofthe Riviera Beach Marina on East 13th Streetin Riviera Beach, providing service betweenthe Marina and Peanut Island. It operates onan as-needed basis with a boat capacity of 40passengers.

• Sea Fare Water Taxi, also operating out ofthe Riviera Beach Marina, currently providesservice to Peanut Island, with peak demandin the spring and summer months. Thisservice operates two boats with capacityranging from 45 to 49 passengers per vessel.This company provided multi-stop water taxiservice in the past in the Riviera Beach area,from Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, andPeanut Island.

• Delray Beach Cruises operates out ofAtlantic Plaza on Atlantic Avenue indowntown Delray Beach and offerssightseeing cruises. This service runs oneboat with the largest capacity (150passengers) of the current services in theCounty.

In addition to the existing water taxi operations, thePalm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization(MPO) secured a $1 Million grant from the FloridaDepartment of Transportation in 2007 to enable localgovernments to design and construct water taxi stopsin Palm Beach County. Although the grant wasinitially limited to projects north of West Palm Beach,delays in permitting encouraged the MPO to expand

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Water Tax Stop Locations: Limited Network


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the funds county-wide. To date, there are seven watertaxi dock facilities in various stages of permitting,design, and construction pursuant to this grant,including several in Jupiter, Juno Beach, RivieraBeach, West Palm Beach, and Lake Worth. The mapon the previous page illustrates the “LimitedNetwork” of water taxi stop locations, includingexisting stops as well as pending stops fundedthrough the MPO grant.

Water Taxi Operational Analysis

To analyze the potential for the development of amore extensive water taxi service in Palm BeachCounty, the area surrounding Peanut Island (LakeWorth Inlet, Riviera Beach) was utilized as a centerpoint, given its current preponderance of services andPeanut Island as a key destination. The following setof service assumptions were established for apotential county-wide service, with a goal ofascertaining how far north and south an effectivewater-based service could function with Riviera Beachas the center point.

Speed Assumptions: Water taxi services tend to useslow-speed vessels, typically ranging from four tofifteen knots per hour. In addition to vessel operatingspeeds, waterway conditions also control service. Theimpact of wake wash on property and parked vesselsis a critical factor, especially in narrow sections of theICW. Also, manatee speed restrictions existthroughout the ICW in Palm Beach County, creatingsignificant limitations for service. To analyzepotential water taxi service in Palm Beach County, thematrix on the following page was developed, whichshows a range of service characteristics for speedsranging from three to fifteen-knot speeds.

The speed of any given service will be dependent onseveral factors, including: the type of vessel; thelength of the route being served; proximity to “slowspeed” zones; and the distance between stations.Local harbor services, such as those currentlyoperated in Riviera Beach, with short shuttle services

and smaller load capacities, will likely operate atslower speeds. However, a longer intercity service,with longer distances between stations, operationswithin the ICW channel, and larger load capacities,will likely operate at higher speeds. Determining theoperating area of a service will therefore be impactedsignificantly by the type of service. On the followingpages, maps illustrating the range of service givendifferent headways are presented.

For purposes of this evaluation, the extent of thereach of a water taxi service is based on theassumptions of a longer haul operation. A ten- tofifteen-knot service, without stationloading/unloading penalties, could reach ten tofifteen miles in an hour. In order to specificallycalculate the exact reach of any given route wouldrequire travel time runs, vessel characteristics, andpresence of slow speed zones. For local, short haulservice, the five-knot service would be most likelyserving approximately a five-mile service area or lessin an hour.

Service Penalty: Service penalties are experiencedwith every additional stop. A five minute penalty wasassumed for loading and unloading of passengers ateach stop. In addition, each additional stop addedfive minutes to the overall trip length.

Based upon these operating assumptions, 30-minuteand 60-minute routes were calculated based uponhow far the boat could get in that amount of timewith all the factors considered. As indicated in thematrix above, slow-speed vessels operating at typicallyfive knots could cover five or six miles in 60 minutesof operation. Faster-speed vessels, conservativelyassumed to operate at ten knots, could cover elevenor twelve miles in 60 minutes. The Operating Matrixabove provides the breakdown of time, speed, anddistances. This analysis did not address the necessarypermitting that an operator would need to go throughwith the United States Coast Guard and others. It issimply meant to illustrate route parameters for apotential first phase of service.

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Recommended Water Taxi Network

Given the operating parameters, headways, and taxistop spacing available along the Intracoastal, arecommended network of water taxi stop locationswas developed as illustrated in the map on thefollowing page. This network includes existing watertaxi services; pending water taxi docks per the MPOgrant; and recommended new locations that coincidewith the seven marina villages, public marinas, andother marine destinations along the waterway.

The operating assumptions indicate a higher speedvessel (operating at ten knots) would travelapproximately eleven to twelve miles in 60 minutes.Using the conservative end of the range, the mapbelow indicates the expected headways between taxistop locations throughout the Intracoastal with therecommended network. Given the County’s roadwayand transit network, it is reasonable to assume thisnetwork could yield reasonable ridership for specialevents, during peak season, and perhaps for weekendevents if well-organized and marketed.

To analyze the potential for a County-wide water taxi service, an operating matrix was assembled to compare various serviceoptions given varying speed and distance. As indicated above, a slow-speed (5-knot) service should cover a 6-mile route in 60minutes while a faster-speed (10-knot) service should cover eleven miles in the same timeframe.


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The map above illustrates the recommended water taxi network (existing, pending, and recommended locations) along with theseven marina village locations. If a more extensive network of water taxi stop locations is developed, waterway-based servicecould be successful for special events, seasonal activity, and perhaps weekend activity throughout the year in Palm BeachCounty.



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With operating speed assumptions of ten knots and other factors, it is estimated a 60-minute higher-speed service could coverapproximately eleven to twelve miles. This map illustrates eleven-mile segments along the limited water taxi network (existingand pending water taxi stops) in Palm Beach County. Hour-long headways at this speed would enable travel between, forexample, Lake Park and West Palm Beach or West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach.


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As illustrated in the map above, a Water Taxi Recommended Network is illustrated, including existing water taxi stops, pendingwater taxi dock locations, and recommended new locations to coincide with upland development activity. The eleven-mile barsto the east of the land area indicate the estimated 60-minute headway for higher-speed vessels.



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Just as is the case with an upland transit network, thesuccess of waterborne transit hinges on many factors.Land use/transportation relationships exist at thenexus of all transit nodes with their surroundings. Inaddition to the proper north/south distribution ofwater taxi stops, planning for the water taxi systemmust consider the land use characteristics in whichthe stops are to be located. While many stops will bewithin the seven marina villages detailed in this report,there are a number of water taxi stop locationsinterspersed between these villages. A focus ontransit-supportive development patterns, includingmix of uses, building placement, and naturalsurveillance, among other factors, will enable each ofthese taxi stop locations to function more efficiently,effectively, and safely. A land use planning assessmentof each water taxi stop location, including the sevenmarina villages, is detailed in Chapter VII: MarinaVillages and Waterfront Destinations.

Another factor for successful waterborne transit willbe its integration with the upland transportationnetwork. Users of the water taxi network will arrivein various ways – by foot, bicycle, car, and transit.Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will naturally occur inwalkable, mixed-use settings, such as the marinavillages. Other water taxi stops are reasonablyadjacent to neighborhoods that will generate bicycleand pedestrian activity. Vehicular access will be moredifficult to manage. As land area is limited along theIntracoastal, vehicular parking demand is moredifficult to manage. Marinas and many of thewaterfront public parks experience peak demand onweekends, which parallels the peak times anticipatedfor water taxi use. Parking management strategies willbe necessary to appropriately manage parkingdemand along the waterway for water taxi patrons.

Multi-modal interconnectivity with upland transitservice offers a promising and efficient interface fora successful water taxi network in Palm Beach County.The MPO’s 2030 Long-Range Transportation Planidentifies the recommended transit network for theCounty in the transit portion of the Cost Feasible

Plan. In addition to the County network, severalmunicipalities also operate local trolley service,including West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, andDelray Beach. When the transit and recommendedwater taxi networks are overlaid, it becomes evidentthat the Intracoastal, as well as the marina villageprojects, are well-serviced with multi-modal access,particularly in proximity to the marina villages andmany of water taxi stops. The voracity of thispotential multi-modal network (upland andwaterborne), illustrated in the map on the followingpage, includes the potential premium transit,recommended water taxi network, and marina villagelocations. The Cost Feasible Transit Network

The above map, from the MPO 2030 Long-RangeTransportation Plan, represents the Proposed Cost-FeasiblePlan for the County’s future transit system, which closelycorrespond with the proposed marina village locations.


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The above map illustrates the multi-modal transportation network possible with the premium transitcomponents of the Palm Beach MPO’s Cost-Feasible Transit Network (2030), the marina villages,and the recommended network of water taxi stop locations.



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adopted in the MPO’s 2030 Long-RangeTransportation Plan is included for reference in thischapter.

Although a water taxi network is unlikely to attractcommuters given the anticipated headways incomparison to the land-based transportation system,such a water taxi network with a variety ofdestinations could fulfill the County’s “Quality ofLife” directive in its Strategic EconomicDevelopment Plan, enhancing the quality of life forresidents and visitors as well as adding to theambiance of Palm Beach County. The water taxinetwork could also enhance the economic success ofthe marina villages as well as the interspersed watertaxi stop locations with increased activity andpatronage.

High Speed Ferries

The subject of high-speed ferries is somewhatbeyond the scope initially envisioned for theIntracoastal Study. As noted in the discussion ofwater taxi service, high-speed ferry service for thelength of the Intracoastal is not feasible given theenvironmental constraints, slow speed zones, andoperating conditions. However, high-speed ferryservice is a reasonable transportation alternative tomore distant locations such as Fort Lauderdale,Miami, the Florida Keys, or offshore islands like theBahamas. While such a service would likely have onlya limited relationship to the Intracoastal, itnonetheless could provide an economic andtransportation enhancement for the County.

The Port of Palm Beach has provided high-speedservice to the Bahamas in the past; however, servicewas discontinued due to operating costs and demand.

In the map above, existing high speed ferry services from Fort Myers and Marco Island are illustrated along with potential routesfor new high speed ferry service from the Port of Palm Beach.


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Other areas in the region such as Fort Lauderdale alsoprovided high-speed service at one time butsuspended the service due to costs and permittingissues. Currently, Miami, Fort Myers, and MarcoIsland provide seasonal high-speed ferry service toKey West. These service times are comparative withthe automobile for length of trip providing a viabletransportation alternative.

Charrette participants encouraged the MPO, County,Port and others to further investigate the potential re-establishment of high-speed ferry service todestinations such as South Florida, the Keys, and theBahamas. The timing for such a service may beoptimal, especially for service to the Bahamas as theBahamian islands continue their economic recoveryfrom recent tropical activity and ultimate buildout. Inthe map on the previous page, potential routes fornew ferry service from the Port of Palm Beach topoints in South Florida and the Bahamas areillustrated. It should be noted that new serviceestablishment may require public participation toincentivize new operations.

Inlets, Canals, and Rivers

Palm Beach County is home to four inlets; howeveronly the Lake Worth Inlet (also know as the PalmBeach Inlet) is a federally maintained inlet. Thismeans the USACE is responsible for the maintenanceand navigability of this inlet. This inlet providesaccess to the Port of Palm Beach among otherrecreational destinations. The other three inlets,Jupiter Inlet, Boynton Inlet, and Boca Raton Inlet areprimarily used by recreational boaters. These inletsare not regularly maintained by the USACE andconditions vary. Boaters without “local knowledge”are cautioned to avoid these inlets. Due to strongcurrents and changing wave action, many are verydangerous to navigate and in some cases are notnavigable.

Canals and rivers in Palm Beach County provideboaters access to natural resources and carry little, ifany, commercial traffic. These canals and rivers flowinto the ICW providing recreational boatersconnectivity to the waterway. These canals and riversare monitored for environmental impacts of waterflow and personal use of the waterway byenvironmental agencies. In addition, some havequestioned or proposed expanded use of some ofthese to provide services such as inland marinas anddry docks, especially during bad weather. Theseinterconnections are illustrated on the following page.

Port of Palm Beach

The Port of Palm Beach is the largest water-relatedtransportation hub along the 43 miles of ICW inPalm Beach County. It is a multi-niche port housingbreak-bulk (lumber and steel), bulk and dry cargo(asphalt, cement, molasses, sugar, and fuel oil),containers (twenty foot equivalent units [TEUs]), andcruise (single-day) services. In Fiscal Year 2007,according to the Port of Palm Beach, it handled109,113 tons of break bulk cargo; 1,933,345 tons ofbulk and dry cargo; 257,507 TEUs; and 566,408cruise passengers. All cargo and cruise passengers

Ferry service exists today on Florida’s west coast in theSarasota area, with service to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, andKey West. Palm Beach County’s eastern frontage could allowrapid service to the Bahamas and perhaps other Caribbeanislands.



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pass through the ICW via the Lake Worth Inlet enroute to the Port. The Port traffic is forecasted togrow by 3.5 percent annually through 2015. The Port has constrained water, terminal, andlandside access. A series of channel, turning basin,and berth improvements are planned, as illustratedon the following. A new warehouse is underconstruction to increase the storage capacity on land.Also, the South Gate project will provide a new gatecomplex, which will enhance port access and shiftinternal/external traffic for smoother flow. Inaddition, there are rail improvements planned, the

inlet dredging project is moving forward, and the finalsegment of SR 710 is being studied to reconnect theeast/west corridor with US 1. In addition, thepossibility of an inland port in western Palm BeachCounty offers the potential for additional off-sitestorage for the Port, which is unable to expand at itscurrent location in Riviera Beach due to agreementswith the City of Riviera Beach.

The Intracoastal provides access to four ocean inlets in Palm Beach County, including Jupiter, Lake Worth (in Riviera Beach),Boynton Beach, and Boca Raton. To the west, the ICW also is interconnected to a series of canals and rivers, as indicated inthe aerials above.


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The Megayacht Industry

South Florida is home to one of the most welldeveloped megayacht industries in the world. This ishighlighted annually by a boat show that draws allmajor yacht manufacturers and serves as one of thelargest economic stimulus activities for the region.While some of the largest yachting centers are locatedin Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Palm Beach also ishome to a growing service and storage industryrelated to these 100-foot-plus luxury vessels. In orderto serve this industry, appropriate waterside andlandside infrastructure elements must be in place.From the waterside, minimum water depths andberthing areas are critical. In some areas, the currentconditions of the ICW do not provide theappropriate depths. In addition, even when thechannel itself provides the necessary depth, water

from the channel to the berthing areas is not alwayssufficient. In this instance, it is typically theresponsibility of the private service operators tomaintain and deepen their access routes.

In Palm Beach County, the established megayachtservice areas are located in close proximity to theLake Worth Inlet, surrounding the Port of PalmBeach to the north and south. During the charrette,participants emphasized the opportunity toreconsider this area as “megayacht mile,” anintentional variation on Broward County’s “marinamile” which is the main source of competition forthis industry niche. Due to ICW conditions in thisarea, vessels accessing the southern service centersare forced to use the eastern-most part of thewaterway outside of the official channel, as illustratedin the image to the right. Businesses based in this

The Port of Palm Beach has long-term improvements needed to enable expansion of its operation and allow access for deepervessels.



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As illustrated on the map above, the success of a“megayacht mile” in Palm Beach County depends ondeepened access routes for these 100+ foot boats toaccess the upland.

Facilities such as the Rybovich Marina in West Palm Beach (pictured above)currently service megayachts. Additional service and support facilities wouldenable the expansion of this industry cluster.

area are working to solicitfunding to help improve thewaterway. The area shown inred illustrates the key areas ofthe megayacht servicefacilities. In addition to thewaterside constraints, it iscritical to preserve industriallands along the waterfront.These facilities need to havereliable highway access toreceive parts and fuel. Anadditional challenge facingthis area is the proximity torecreational activities foryacht crews. Palm BeachCounty does not have asignificant density of activitycenters for multi-day periods,and consequently, manymegayacht crews tend to spend their down time inlocations like Miami. This makes shuttle servicescritical to access these regional areas.

From an economic standpoint, maintaining andexpanding yacht service facilities is critical. Thisindustry caters to the wealthy – that is, those that areless impacted by downturns in the economy. Theeconomics of the megayacht industry and itsimplications for the ICW and Palm Beach County arediscussed in detail in Chapter IX (SustainableEconomics). Based on the findings in this study, thisindustry could provide significant contributions to theeconomy of the county and region if it is able toexpand and become sustainable.


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KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This section details the key findings and recommendations developed as a result of the analysis of water-based transportation issues described in this chapter.

Support and Establish a Water Taxi System

• Conduct further analysis to determine potential demand, market, headways, operating speeds,and optimal water taxi stop spacing for system efficiency and effectiveness.

• Determine appropriate balance of origin and destination stations.• Integrate water taxi stop locations within marina villages. • Evaluate stand-alone water taxi stop locations.• Promote transit-supportive land use activity at water taxi stop locations, including appropriate

mix of uses, building placement, visibility, intermodal access, and natural surveillance.• Promote coordination among water taxi operators regarding schedules, rates, and service

characteristics, especially for special events.• Coordinate water taxi stops with upland transit network where possible.• Consider establishing water taxi organization to provide common marketing and promotions;

standardized schedules, routes, and fees; and expanded awareness.• Expand appropriate County and agency web-sites (e.g., interface within Tourist Development

Council and Convention and Visitors Bureau sites to include descriptive overview of water taxiservices and reference links to operators).

Evaluate Potential for a New High-Speed Ferry Service

• Analyze key routes for potential high-speed ferry service, including Fort Lauderdale, Miami, theFlorida Keys, and the Bahamas.

• Encourage the Port of Palm Beach to solicit ferry service providers to develop new service atthe Port.

Increase the Number and Size of Boating Facilities (cross-reference with Chapter IV Public Access)

• Maximize efficiency and effectiveness of existing public boating facilities.• Add staging docks at boat ramps to increase utilization.• Maintain operations of existing public marinas via incentives, public/private partnerships, and

efficiency improvements.• Expand public marinas where possible with additional wet slips and dry storage.• Add day docks in public parks to expand access by boaters.



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Expand and Strengthen the Marine Industry

• Develop better measures of marine industry in Palm Beach County.• Protect existing marine industrial uses with incentives.• Encourage County and local governments to adopt “no net loss” policy to protect existing marine

industrial uses.• Investigate potential for establishment of “megayacht mile” in Riviera Beach/West Palm Beach.• Support dredging inlet and channel in Riviera Beach to support working waterfronts, particularly

megayacht service providers.• Encourage proper transitional land uses and patterns be established adjacent to working

waterfronts to improve land use relationships.• Support location of complementary technical and mechanical uses in upland areas to support

working waterfronts.• Integrate workforce housing proximate to working waterfronts to increase sustainability.

Support Expansion of the Port of Palm Beach

• Encourage completion of on-going projects, including warehouse construction.• Continue to evaluate off-site freight distribution improvements, such as the Inland Port, to

increase efficiency of Port operations.• Support the dredging of the Lake Worth inlet and channel to improve Port operations.• Continue to work with the City of Riviera Beach, FDOT, and Palm Beach MPO to refine

landscaping and detailing of SR 710 expansion project.

Preserve Existing Public Marina and Marine Industrial Space (refer to Economics chapter)

• Support adoption of “no net loss” policy among local governments for protection of marineindustrial uses.

Support the Removal of Derelict Vessels

• Encourage the identification of ownership, removal of derelict vessels, and proper fines forowners to improve navigation, reduce environmental hazards, and improve aesthetics of theIntracoastal.

Improve Inlet-Intracoastal Coordination for Dredging, Maintenance, Permitting, andFunding

• Identify maintenance and enhancement projects within five- and ten-year windows to derive op-portunities for efficiencies and economies of scale among inlet and Intracoastal operations.

• Coordinate permitting and funding applications to create County-wide (or regional) approachto permitting and funding agencies for appropriate projects.

06 water-based transportation - final draft … transportation t reasure c oastr egional p lanning c...

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