Metro - File #: 2026-0521

• File #: 2026-0521
• Type: Motion / Motion Response
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 7/10/2026
• In control: Operations, Safety, and Customer Experience Committee
• On agenda: 7/16/2026
• Title: APPROVE Motion by Hahn, Bass, and Richardson that the Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to convene regional partners, including Metro, the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Long Beach to: A. Determine each agency's willingness to participate in funding the implementation and operation of the San Pedro-Long Beach water taxi service; B. Develop a proposed cost-sharing framework among Metro and participating regional partners to provide the funding certainty necessary to advance implementation of the service; C. Continue pursuing grant, maritime, sponsorship, advertising, visitor pass, fare revenue, and other revenue opportunities to offset project costs and support long-term service sustainability; D. Develop a framework under which participating agencies that contribute toward the initial costs of the service may be reimbursed on a proportional basis if grant funding, sponsorships, visitor pass revenues, fare revenues, or other external funding sourc...
• Sponsors: Board of Directors - Regular Board Meeting
• Indexes: Advertising, City of Los Angeles, Gateway Cities (Southeast LA County) Service Sector, Gateway Cities subregion, Grant Aid, Long Beach, Motion / Motion Response, Olympic games, Project, Request For Proposal, San Pedro, South Bay Cities subregion, South Bay Service Sector, Taxi services

Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
JULY 16, 2026

Preamble
Motion by:

DIRECTORS HANN, BASS, and RICHARDSON

San Pedro to Long Beach Water Taxi: Collaborative Funding Strategy Motion

In May 2025, the Metro Board directed staff to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a water taxi service between San Pedro and Long Beach, including assessing service options, infrastructure needs, operator interest, and potential funding strategies for both the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and long-term operations. In response, Metro completed the San Pedro-Long Beach Water Taxi Feasibility Study, which found that a water taxi service could improve regional mobility, strengthen connections between the San Pedro and Long Beach waterfronts, and enhance access to waterfront destinations for residents and visitors.

As a follow-up to the Board's direction, Metro conducted industry outreach in 2026 through a Request for Information (RFI), which confirmed interest from qualified ferry operators and identified viable operating concepts. While respondents identified potential long-term revenue opportunities through sponsorships, advertising, business partnerships, concessions, and other passenger-focused amenities, they also emphasized that these revenue sources remain uncertain and would not provide the funding guarantee needed to launch service.

Metro's review of potential funding opportunities further found that competitive grant opportunities for temporary operations are limited, making regional coordination necessary to determine whether participating agencies are interested in advancing the project through a collaborative funding approach while pursuing grants, maritime funding, sponsorships, visitor pass programs, and other revenue opportunities that could reduce public costs over time.

Subject
SUBJECT: SAN PEDRO TO LONG BEACH WATER TAXI: COLLABORATIVE FUNDING STRATEGY MOTION

Heading
RECOMMENDATION

Title
APPROVE Motion by Hahn, Bas...