King's Wharf water taxi service on verge of Halifax Harbour launch

Anyone who needs to travel back and forth from Dartmouth to Halifax will soon get another transportation option, as King's Wharf developers are about to launch a new water taxi service.

For those people who may not want to drive or take the ferry, Francis Fares says he has bought two, 12-passenger boats that may be in the water as early as July. 

"It so makes sense to connect the harbour, to connect the community and people who can utilize the harbour the same way they use the bridge or any other means of transportation," he said. 

The boats, which Fares purchased in China, are currently being remodeled. When they're done, the service will be available every morning at 7 a.m. from the King's Wharf marina. 

The cost? Five dollars will take you to the Halifax docks, located near The Wave statue. 

Fares said by creating more accessible transportation, he's also trying to drum up appeal for his King's Wharf condos buildings — of which he has 12 more planned. 

But, Fares explains he doesn't expect to make money with the new taxi service, despite the fact that the boats can be booked for private trips and will make regular stops on McNabs Island. 

"It's a big cost. And the payback won't be a fraction of the cost," he said. 

The water taxi business has gone from being non-existent to a competitive niche in just a few weeks as Chebucto Water Taxi's fleet launched today. 

"I welcome the competition," said Alex Kawchuk of Chebucto Water Taxi. "I'd love this to become a more widespread thing so that more people can think of this as a more viable way of getting around."