Riverfront plan: Water Taxis and Trolleys

**emu steve** · May-11-15, 05:12 AM

"Water taxis zipping up and down the Detroit River and trolley buses humming along the riverfront could be the next legs in the city's expanding transit system.
It's an idea being pushed by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, which is preparing to raise $3 million to fund a transportation system that is part water taxi, part trolley and operates exclusively along the river in Detroit."

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2015/05/11/riverfront-plan-floats-water-taxis-trolleys/27102077/

**mikeg19** · May-11-15, 05:49 AM

It's a novel idea, although I hardly see the point in taking a water taxi from the Ren Cen to Cobo. It almost seems like more of a hassle to have to board a boat then to just walk it or take a regular taxi. A neat idea that hopefully would expand to include further destinations.

**ddaydetroit** · May-11-15, 07:06 AM

I was in one place where water taxis where used and worked great they were used to go up and down the river and to cross the river that was in Bangkok. Totally apples and oranges comparison people walked everywhere and I would not think they could be used to go to Canada I really do not see a practical use for them here.
Years ago my Grandpa used to talk about talking passenger boats on the Detroit river to get cities all along the great lakes but he said the roads were really bad and it was easier to take the boats but soon as the roads improved and most families got a cars it wasn't profitable anymore.

**401don** · May-11-15, 07:26 AM

Maybe a job for Uber Water Taxi.

**iheartthed** · May-11-15, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by ddaydetroit

I was in one place where water taxis where used and worked great they were used to go up and down the river and to cross the river that was in Bangkok. Totally apples and oranges comparison people walked everywhere and I would not think they could be used to go to Canada I really do not see a practical use for them here.
Years ago my Grandpa used to talk about talking passenger boats on the Detroit river to get cities all along the great lakes but he said the roads were really bad and it was easier to take the boats but soon as the roads improved and most families got a cars it wasn't profitable anymore.

Why can't water taxis be used to go to Windsor?

**Hermod** · May-11-15, 10:27 AM

Ft Lauderdale has water taxis, but they are primarily used for sightseeing or to go to one of the fancy restaurants along the waterway. Norfolk, VA had a water taxi for commuters from Hampton to downtown Norfolk, but it wasn't meeting expenses and quit. A Detroit River water taxi service would be further handicapped by being seasonal.

The Great Lakes once had thriving water passenger services [["When Detroit Rode the Waves" by Michael M. Dixon has a pretty good description) but except for the ships running car ferry service to Milwaukee have gone out of business as unprofitable.

My parents met on a cruise from Detroit to Tashmoo Park on the steamer Tashmoo.

**MSUguy** · May-11-15, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by mikeg19

It's a novel idea, although I hardly see the point in taking a water taxi from the Ren Cen to Cobo. It almost seems like more of a hassle to have to board a boat then to just walk it or take a regular taxi. A neat idea that hopefully would expand to include further destinations.

Well you not might take it from Cobo to the Ren Cen but Cobo to Rivard Plaza and beyond is a bit of a hike.

**drjeff** · May-11-15, 12:16 PM

Baltimore has a nice water taxi service.

**ddaydetroit** · May-11-15, 12:39 PM

No Customs/Immigration office on the water

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Why can't water taxis be used to go to Windsor?

**mwilbert** · May-11-15, 03:39 PM

There's nothing odd about water taxis, but in most places I know of, water taxis aren't running their entire route parallel to the shore. I don't think Jefferson is generally congested enough for this to make sense except possibly as a tourist thing.

**yupislyr** · May-11-15, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by ddaydetroit

No Customs/Immigration office on the water

A passenger ferry service between Windsor and Detroit may be piloted soon.

The Canadian customs screening may end up being in Detroit.

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/de...destrian-ferry

**southen** · May-11-15, 04:26 PM

this is definitely the start of something greater, which is great. i cant wait to see this paired with service over to windsor.

just as people are eyeing brush park as the next neighborhood to get transformed i cant help but think that the riverfront isnt far behind. there is so much developable land there and the addition of this will make it that much more attractive. pretty exciting stuff.

**rbdetsport** · May-11-15, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by ddaydetroit

No Customs/Immigration office on the water

We have one on the Detroit side in the Port Authority Terminal. Need to get one on the Canada side.

**Carcross** · May-11-15, 07:51 PM

While it could be a neat attraction, I am skeptical of the water taxi. It would not be something that I would prefer to see public dollars spent on when there are so many other more pressing transit needs that could use the funds.

If they want to install the docks for the taxi, I would be okay with that. But I would prefer the taxi boat service itself be operated by a private company. Obviously whether or not there is enough demand to pay for the water taxi service would be decided by the market. Given that the water taxi would be a leisure transit service, that is how it probably should be.

As an aside, I can see there being a demand for a taxi connecting downtown Detroit and Windsor. That service would benefit far more travelers, and make more sense in the near term. Unfortunately the new Detroit customs dock at Hart Plaza is not in the best location for such a service, as it is kind of isolated and disconnected from the rest of downtown. I always thought they messed up when they put the customs dock there. A much better location would have been by Joe Louis Arena, with the new port connected to the JLA people mover station. That would at least have provided arriving ferry passengers access to most of downtown via the people mover.

**southen** · May-11-15, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by Carcross

As an aside, I can see there being a demand for a taxi connecting downtown Detroit and Windsor. That service would benefit far more travelers, and make more sense in the near term. Unfortunately the new Detroit customs dock at Hart Plaza is not in the best location for such a service, as it is kind of isolated and disconnected from the rest of downtown. I always thought they messed up when they put the customs dock there. A much better location would have been by Joe Louis Arena, with the new port connected to the JLA people mover station. That would at least have provided arriving ferry passengers access to most of downtown via the people mover.

tucked away in no man's land is not a good spot for a customs dock despite being closer to a people mover station. the terminal is a short walk away from the ren cen which has a people mover stop itself. placing it between the city's biggest hotel and the plaza which has quite a few festivals and is a short walk from woodward is far better than being by the joe simply due to a people mover stop. im sure there could be some linkage to downtown via the proposed trolley as well.

**iheartthed** · May-11-15, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by rbdetsport

We have one on the Detroit side in the Port Authority Terminal. Need to get one on the Canada side.

They could do customs for both the US and Canada in the Port Authority terminal.

**archfan** · May-12-15, 12:41 AM

It would be nice to have something between Atwater and the riverwalk other than parking lots and dead zones. This could be the spur to get development going there.

**old guy** · May-12-15, 02:12 AM

As a former resident and now an occasional visitor, I think the idea of some sort of water taxi would be beneficial to Detroit. A city scape is usually unique from the waterfront.
I think it would be a good way to draw people to visit the city.

Honestly, I don't think Detroit utilizes the water it sits next to in a way that could promote the city by leaps and bounds. The architecture is incredible, it's one of the most recognizable cities in the world, and it has a waterfront view that's beautiful. With a city on the other side of the river and Belle Island, why wouldn't you capitalize on the riverfront?

**401don** · May-12-15, 07:29 AM

I really don't think there's much demand for the trips to Windsor. What is there for Detroiters to do there? The downtown shopping/restaurants are mostly gone. Windsor residents are used to taking their cars or the tunnel bus although a ferry might lessen wait times. Unfortunately most big events at Cobo occur during the bad weather seasons and how many visitors would have their passports on hand?

**Dbest** · May-12-15, 08:06 AM

''The front page story in 1938 reported that passengers crowded the ferries to bid goodbye to a service that had connected the two cities for more than a century.''

Neat history.....

**mkd** · May-12-15, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by 401don

I really don't think there's much demand for the trips to Windsor. What is there for Detroiters to do there? The downtown shopping/restaurants are mostly gone. Windsor residents are used to taking their cars or the tunnel bus although a ferry might lessen wait times. Unfortunately most big events at Cobo occur during the bad weather seasons and how many visitors would have their passports on hand?

I think Windsor has plenty to do. Their casino is smoke-free and hosts decent shows, they've probably got the best view of our skyline, a very walkable downtown, a drinking age of 19, etc.

On the flip side, there are of course many reasons for Windsorites to want to cross to Detroit. A ferry is definitely worth a shot.

**Wesley Mouch** · May-12-15, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

They could do customs for both the US and Canada in the Port Authority terminal.

When you say 'could', do you mean that there is already 'enabling legislation' that allows CBSA to operate on that Detroit soil?

US Customs does operate on-site at several Canadian airports. There's a big sign in one of them that says 'Welcome to the USA'. Once you pass, you are in a secured area and don't have to pass customs at your US destination.

I don't know of any instances of CBSA on US soil, though.

**Mzsuzuki** · May-12-15, 10:39 AM

Can I take the water taxi to Sinbads? What other restaurant borders the Detroit River?

**Hermod** · May-12-15, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

When you say 'could', do you mean that there is already 'enabling legislation' that allows CBSA to operate on that Detroit soil?

US Customs does operate on-site at several Canadian airports. There's a big sign in one of them that says 'Welcome to the USA'. Once you pass, you are in a secured area and don't have to pass customs at your US destination.

I don't know of any instances of CBSA on US soil, though.

US also has customs and immigration stations in Bermuda and the Bahamas which allows flights to US airports which do not have an international terminal.

**downtownguy** · May-12-15, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Mzsuzuki

Can I take the water taxi to Sinbads? What other restaurant borders the Detroit River?

One of the proposed docks is at the foot of Joseph Campau, which makes sense since that's where the Diamond Jack/Queen etc. boats dock. The Rattlesnake Club and Andrews on the Corner are nearby. Up Joseph Campau a block or two is Atwater Brewery [[no food) and They Say. A short walk east of the dock is Roberts RiverWalk Hotel which has a lounge. The last proposed stop east is Belle Isle, which means Sinbads will not be serviced.