City buys two water taxis for OK River
City authority agrees to buy boats
By The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority will buy two water taxi ferries from a New York company for about $900,000 each for use on the Oklahoma River.
The water taxi project has been in development for more than a year.
Initial plans focus on establishing river taxi routes between two terminals or docks, one at the Bricktown Canals intersection with the river, adjacent to the Chesapeake Boathouse, and another just east of Meridian Avenue, a few miles north of Will Rogers World Airport.
Other water taxi terminals are likely to be built at the Stockyards District, near the state fairgrounds and the American Indian Cultural Center. Officials have said the boat terminals will be supported by street trolley service to expand traveler access through the city's core.
The boats, which will hold 49 passenger, will be purchased from Scarano Boatbuilding Inc. of New York.
Alan Sims, director of convention sales at the Oklahoma City Visitors and Convention Bureau, said the organization is eager to promote the river routes.
"This is another big step in the development of Oklahoma City, making us a viable destination for meetings and conventions," Sims said.
"Once the boats are in place, it immediately makes us more attractive, certainly to the larger groups that need to use the downtown area and the Meridian corridor. They'll now have a fun way to get from one area to another. It's going to be a great benefit."
Originally Posted by TStheThird
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