The Fells Point service will soon be able to connect with the planned Charm City Circulator bus service scheduled to begin in late summer, Robinson said. That would, for instance, allow somebody who lives in Locust Point and works at Johns Hopkins Hospital the option of commuting by water taxi and shuttle bus rather than by car.
The $1.59 million competitive grant by the Federal Highway Administration was part of a $60 million pool of money for ferry and related transportation projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed earlier this year at the behest of President Barack Obama.
Kendrick said the city intends to keep the service free for as long as possible. He said that once the city purchases the two new water taxis, the one now on the Fells Point run - less suited for winter service - will be used as a spare.
