Free Miami Beach water taxi could launch in time for Art Basel

Zoom in: The proposal, sponsored by Mayor Steven Meiner, calls for Water Taxi of Fort Lauderdale to run two ferries on a 3-mile route along the Venetian Causeway.

• The 55-person ferries would run between 7am and 7:20pm Monday-Friday, stopping at Maurice Gibb Memorial Park dock and the Venetian Marina & Yacht Club.
• The boats would run every hour until switching to half-hour stops starting at 4:30pm.
• If approved, the city plans to launch the ferries with enhanced service on Dec. 1 for Miami Art Week.

Follow the money: The service — proposed as a five-year contract — would cost about $1.2 million this fiscal year, split between the city and a state grant.

What's next: The first year would test rider demand and "position the city for potential future expansion," including a north-south service, per a city memo.

• The proposal was scheduled to be heard at Wednesday's commission meeting, but the meeting was canceled after a Beach police officer died Tuesday morning in a motorcycle accident.