The Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority is seeking bids to restart its water taxi service, which has been inactive since 2019.
On January 8, the board decided to request sealed bids from potential operators again. They’re hoping to find someone who can run the service this summer.
The water taxi used to ferry people across Presque Isle Bay, but it hasn’t been in operation since 2019. Julie Slomski, the executive director, is optimistic about getting enough proposals to make it happen.
They’ll be accepting proposals until February 6. The water taxi, known as Aquabus II, started in 2000 to help tourists and locals travel between the city and Presque Isle State Park.
It usually ran from June to October, making stops at popular spots. The Port Authority owns two water taxis, but finding a private operator has been tough.
Operators need a U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license, which has limited interest. The last operator, Presque Isle Boat Tours, didn’t renew their contract after it expired in 2019.
The service was also halted in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. The Port Authority has tried to find new operators since then but hasn’t had much luck.
In the past, operators also needed to provide insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Slomski mentioned that they’d need to work out details like routes, pricing, and hours with any new operator.
Anyone interested in submitting a proposal can do so by contacting the Port Authority’s main office in Erie. They’ll open bids publicly on February 6 at 4 p.m.
