Miami Beach is launching a free water taxi program for the second year, starting December 1, to shuttle passengers between the island and mainland every ten to fifteen minutes, with connecting shuttles to the Convention Center and Collins Avenue. The initiative comes as severe traffic congestion during Miami Art Week has driven some exhibitors away from NADA’s inland fairgrounds, with dealers reporting that collectors often abandon trips midway due to gridlock.
The water taxis represent a tacit admission by the city that its roads have become dysfunctional during peak art-fair periods, transforming a logistical crisis into a glossy, high-visibility gesture. The program underscores how infrastructure challenges are reshaping the geography of Miami Art Week, potentially altering where fairs and galleries choose to locate, and highlighting the tension between the city's promotional image and the practical realities faced by art-world participants.