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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-76-0165to: Honorable Mettbers of the City Cotritnissioti FROM: P. W. Andrews City Matiager CLOY ofr MIAMI, PLbf4IbA iNfiert+bPMtt MtMbfANfiUM bAfE: FEBA en SUTJEci: Waterborne Transportation interim Recommendations Status Report Agenda Item 17 REFERENCES: ENCLOSURES: 1 BACKGROUND Pursuant to discussions concerning development of Bicentennial Park the City Commission expressed interest in providing some mode of waterborne transport- ation linking points of interest along Biscayne Bay and the Miarni River. Such points, in addition to Bicentennial Park, included Watson island, Bayfront Park, Riverside Walkway, Lummus Park, Robert King High Towers, Sewell Park, Miamarina, Coconut Grove, the Seaport, Omni International, Claughton Island and DuPont Plaza. The types of waterborne transportation suggested include considerations for com- muter water transportation and sightseeing excursions to attractions and scenic areas. Also to be considered were various types of floating facilities such as restaurants and other similar type concession operations. Previous reports from the Planning Department have indicated the results of inquiries to local sightseeing cruise and tour operators and based upon the general information supplied to these operators, their concensus revealed that waterborne transportation in the form of sightseeing, be it scenic or attraction requires a sig- nificant attraction and activity potential with respect to numbers of people in order to justify a financial commitment that would be economically feasible for such operations. A review of the suggested points of embarkation indicates that presently, people attraction does not exist in the majority of points suggested. As pointed out in a previous memorandum to the Commission, as development occurs and activity nodes develop, an evaluation of these activity nodes and the linkage by water transportation between the nodes could be properly considered. An additional report involving consideration of a hydrofoil indicated that such a vehicle could only sustain a feasible operation through consideration of a commuter waterborne transportation system tied with County or regional transit needs and requirements. Page 1 ft- D l.r_' N �� S a7� '''" III r J ',4,.. FED 0 IA Hoftorable Metiibers of the City Commission The conclusions therefore of this background information suggest that unless commuter transportation is of a prime motive, other waterborne activities relatin to sightseeing cannot be significantly justified until the suggested points gelat along the routes achieve a statistical dominance to in turn justify economic feasibility. In fact, preliminary indications reflect that sightseeing type water= borne operations will need to be subsidized in some form in order to justify the entrance of private entrepreneurs into providing such a service. As profit return to private operators presently involved in the service of water transportation is of question, the creation of a new operation sponsored by a governmental entity would likewise be of considerable economic question. ANALYSIS The local sightseeing operations in their responses to general inquiries by the Department have indicated a willingness to pursue additional discussions with respect to providing some waterborne transportation linkage and tend to indicate that such transportation would most soundly be received when activity nodes are constructed and discernable. If commuter transportation is considered, during peak hours of transit need, the waterborne vehicles needed for commuter operation could be used during non -peak hours to link future attraction and scenic facilities along the Bay and River within the City limits of Miami. The previous comparison of the suggested operations in Miami compared to the San Antonio River operations indicated that the vehicles and usage of the San Antonio River differ significantly from the suggested operations in Miami. It was concluded by staff studies and also by the comments of cruise operators in the Miami area, that an ordinary vehicle similar to the type presently used for sightseeing operations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale would be the most appro- priate vehicle to operate in the unprotected waters of Biscayne Bay and with minimum inconvenience with respect to bridges and commercial boat traffic along the Miami River. The scope of the San Antonio River operation is such that a profitable waterborne operation is feasible due to the limited physical capacity of the River being protected by its environs and utilization of a vehicle of minimal cost. The San Antonio River is also under the complete control of the City of San Antonio thereby assuring public interest and control. CONCLUSIONS As the investigation of waterborne transportation proceeds and the elements of such operations become more involved, the overall scope, magnitude and opera- tional aspects become considerably more complex. Page 2 of4 , • C f •,r i` t 10 t (—Vss Honorable Members of the City Commission The attached trap indicates the potential locations for stopping points. How., ever, the only activity points at the present time are those that are commercially operated. $icentennial Park could serve as the base of operation, as the south- east corner ot the park is designated as an arrival plaza adjacent to an area designated for a restaurant and outdoor eating area. i tilkhes.d facilities include mooring cleats and bollards by which to secure a floating loading dock adjacent to the existing boat slip if necessary. Prior to the soliciting of any proposals or negotiations concerning waterborne transportation sponsored by the City of Miami, specific determinations will have to be made concerning commitments to waterborne transportation including commuter transit operations and/or attraction or scenic water transportation linkage. If commuter transit is to be included in the program, considerable coordination is needed with respect to linking all transit modes with the water- borne mode within Miami and Dade County. A secondary operation for sightseeing including attractions and scenic tours would then be a more viable consideration ponce the attraction points and scenic facilities are properly established and operating. There is still. the serious question of whether a sightseeing operation could be self-sustaining and such considerations are not. appropriate until the stopping points are substantially established, Additional consideration will inclu.de further *meetings and discu.ssions with private boat operators presently operating in the Metropolitan area, and by making certain assumptions as to future potential. whether. F=u.ch operations would then be attractive to private entrepreneurs to the extent that a solicitation of proposal would be bene- ficial to all parties. Discussions are to proceed with private property owners such. as Plaza Venetia and Claughton Island, and the Director of the Miami Seaport for _ utilization of these potential. sites in conjunction with the system. Once concurrence of preliminarily feasible operations is received, considerable investigation will have to be done concerning the physical restraints which includes vehicle selection, ports, water conditions, scheduling and travel times, and other pertinent information lead- ing to future contractual arrangements, Another approach which will be reviewed is one that provides for the installation of docking facilities at various existing points of interest by those property owners or land operators to encourage existing boat operators to include these areas in their current operations. Such an approach has the advantage of minimum investment and creates an evolutionary process that has growth potential, Page 3 of 4 "SUPPORTIVE DOCU Ri`U i ENTS - f st t_�.Ur�YY Honorable Members of the City Comtnission ,rU4THtll ACTIONS TO Bt TAX8N The City Administration will have a preliminary design for a tourist and transit boat docking facility to be located at Bicentennial Park. This design will be accomplished by working with the Marine Council, the existing tour boats In the Bay area, and the designers of Bicentennial Park. It is proposed that similar facilities then be considered for Watson island, Port of Miarni, the restaurant area at the Marine Stadium, Seaquarium, Planet Ocean, Vizcaya, Pour Arnba.ssadors, Miarnarina. and Plaza Venitia. ta.ch of these areas would then be requested to develope boat docking faCilities. The existing tour and transit boating enterprises could take advantage of the new facilities. The City would then be in a better position to receive proposals for new tour and transit boats to provide service on a regularly scheduled basis. Need for such service will become more evident as more facilities on the Bay are developed. cc: Honorable Honorable Honorable Honorable Honorable Maurice A. Ferre, Mayor Rose Gordon, Vice Mayor Theodore R. Gibson J. L. Plummer, Jr. Manolo Reboso Page 4 of 4 "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FaLOW" N SSW Ss ST y < 6. EA ST v .l • w. _ s wig EO ST ▪ "Iram..✓f }'.E.s-.D w r. L F'. ▪ NW IA ST ___1,� vt /� �` £:;:ELL h-F.,` �--13��.r BITE iT; IAL• .1 . 7 ST 1� NI1 I l I :.•r • H. TCWERSi MIANARINA L: :.7• S PARc t L.�.T_ri RIVERFitO;iT .: 11/ SW 0 ST • � CONVENTION C1r RIVERc;ALK SW I6 St CORAL 'At BIND AVE' 014 °L.31' POINCIANA AVE MAIIDEE AVE • C 'Y LIMITS .m.rY • 0 RICKENSACKER CAUSEWAY •iit; i 'Roth, PO CAUSEWAY • w�a1Z` JULIA '►UTTLE CAUSEWAY • 1 'PLAZA VENETIA 'VENETIAN CAUSEWAY' -WATSOiI ISLA?ID - PORT OF NIAMI '`CLI,UGHTON ISLAND r• .. -FOUR AY3ASSAEORS `' ••'• O PLAL'IET OCEAN SEA UARILN VIRGINIA Ker o 1500 „co 700 5000 10,000 ?I(? 0 Irt 1 �l Irt YI\(! WATERBORNE TRANSPORTATION NSPORTATION POTE;TIAL EMBARKATIO:i POINTS "SUPPORTIVE' of Miami Planning Dept. February 1976 DOCUMENTS C..�_O 'v„