Three Rivers council throws support behind water taxi service to connect communities

A proposal from the Montague Waterfront Development Corporation to establish a seasonal water taxi service to connect Montague, Georgetown, Brudenell and Cardigan won support from the Town of Three Rivers council on Tuesday night.

Now comes the hard part: Applying for funding to pay for up to two 12-seater pontoon boats powered by electric outboard motors, possibly supported by a solar panel on the roof.

Broeghan Carroll, the development corporation's general manager, created the business plan for the service, to be offered from the middle of June until sometime in September.  

"This is a great way to let… the general public access the waters in an easier fashion," he told CBC News. "I think it's a great way to connect the areas.

"We are named Three Rivers, right?"

Montague, Georgetown, Brudenell and Cardigan all have marinas or docking areas on saltwater rivers emptying into the Northumberland Strait, and are the biggest population centres in the amalgamated town in eastern P.E.I. 

"Funding is obviously the biggest issue," Carroll acknowledged, saying the first iteration of the business plan a few years ago was more ambitious, with a larger boat powered by hydrogen carrying a much bigger pricetag.

"The original project I believe was definitely over a million — might have been a couple of million. This one we were trying to keep it lower," he said. The final budget for the 12-passenger option was around $700,000, he said, "so I think that's a more realistic option."

Getting council's support was the first step toward applying for funding for the project, with the corporation eyeing a number of government initiatives meant to encourage green infrastructure.   

Commute times as short as 20 minutes?

Carroll said with two pontoon vessels in operation, trips between destinations for a cost of between $10 and $20 a person could be as short as 20 minutes, but that could change depending on how long it takes to load and unload. 

The target market would be local commuters, tourists, event organizers, and waterfront businesses.

"Part of the project... was to allow a monthly pass for locals," he said. "It's actually almost just as quick, if not quicker even, to get between the areas via water."

If the development corporation is successful at getting grants, sponsorships and donations to fund the water taxi plan, Carroll said the plan is to have the service running by next year. 

"There's been a number of people that seem interested, but that just depends on what percentage we get funded, and kind of how much each donor would have to basically put in," he said.

Even at the council meeting [Tuesday] night, a lot of the councillors were really excited about the possibility of it.— Broeghan Carroll

"We spoke a lot about sponsorships. I think a lot of small businesses would put in, like, a small amount, and those small amounts may add up because it would be a good way for them to connect other people to their businesses."

Carroll said the project has generated a lot of buzz in the town. 

"Even at the council meeting [Tuesday] night, a lot of the councillors were really excited about the possibility of it," he said. 

"I think it's obviously needed, not only just connecting, but also allowing people to kind of see the beauty of the rivers."