Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Water Bus

Description

In November 2001, Broward County Transit began an experimental fixed-route Water Bus service along the Intracoastal Waterway and the New River, connecting beach attractions and hotels with downtown Fort Lauderdale. The service is operated by Water Taxi, Inc. which had operated an on-demand Water Taxi service for several years. BCT acquired new boats for the service, painted in a honeycomb "bee" theme similar to the one used on BCT buses.

Other Sites

Pictures

[picture] The Clay Shaw noses into the dock to pick up passengers at Las Olas Riverfront in downtown Fort Lauderdale. (Congressman Clay Shaw helped Water Taxi and BCT win a Federal grant for the service.) (29 December 2001)

[picture] The Broward heads west along the New River under the S.E. 3rd Avenue bridge, which has opened to allow the immediately-preceding Jungle Queen tour boat to pass. (29 December 2001)

[picture] The Broward returns east along the New River, passing in front of the Stranahan House (1901), Fort Lauderdale's oldest building. (29 December 2001)

[picture] the Broward passes expensive waterfront homes along the New River. [July 2003]

[picture] Two boats pass on the Intracoastal Waterway, near its confluence with the New River. [July 2003]

[picture #1] | [picture #2] Two views from the Las Olas Boulevard bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway, looking south and north. [July 2003 and January 2002]

[picture] A boat passes under the Las Olas bridge in the evening twilight. [July 2003]

[picture] The B-SEA-T approaches the Lauderdale Marina, near the southern end of the route, with the new SE 17th Street bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in the background. [July 2003]

[picture] The B-SEA-T threads it way between yachts moored at Bahia Mar as it approaches the Water Taxi Base in evening twilight. [July 2003]

[picture] Interior of a boat, showing a couple of passengers who have just boarded via the front ramp. [July 2003]

[picture] The open rear deck provides cool breezes on a warm day. [July 2003]

[picture] Companies can pay to "wrap" a Water Bus with advertising, similar to the wraps on normal buses. [July 2003]

[picture] The Buz is wrapped with a bee motif, in keeping with Broward County Transit's promotional theme. (BCT's bus passes are called "Buz Passes." :-) [July 2003]

Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Fort Lauderdale

This page was last updated on 7 March 2004, and reviewed on 28 November 2007.

This page is © 2004 by Jon Bell (jbell at presby.edu), who is solely responsible for its content. If you're interested in using these pictures, please read my terms of usage.