BRADENTON, Fla. — Starting Dec. 8, people can hop on a new water taxi service in Manatee County and take a ride to Anna Maria Island.

Businesses say they’re excited about this new service and believe it will bring more people downtown.

There’s been a plan years in the making to give visitors and residents multimodal transportation to alleviate traffic and parking issues in the area.

It’s a 35-minute boat ride with two pontoon boats carrying 49 passengers from Downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island.

The journey doesn’t stop here. Elliott Falcione, the Tourism Director for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, says to stay tuned for more.

“We really need to listen to consumers, their feedback, their suggestions. That may take a year of due diligence. Once we know what they want or what they don’t want, we will look into adding Longboat Key,” he said.

Kaitlyn Lilly is making coffee her career.

“It’s been a dream of ours since I can remember, and when I was younger, wanting to own a coffee shop, I thought it was the coolest thing,” she said.

She and her mom own Orange Blossom Coffee Shop in Downtown Bradenton. They’ve been in operation almost a year.

With Manatee County’s new ferry service, Lilly is hoping this means more foot traffic in the area and more customers visiting her café.

“I think it will be something fun for us all to do. I think it will bring in business from the island,” she said.

It’s Kaitlyn’s goal to ingrain herself and the coffee shop into Downtown Bradenton—something that the taxi service will help with.

“I’m excited for it to alleviate traffic and bring more people downtown,” she said.

The ferry system is a new way to get around the area and a new meaning for residents and business owners like Lilly, who could see benefits for years to come.

The Visitors Bureau is also looking to buy a third ferry boat that would transport people from Fort Hamor in Parrish to the islands.

Coquina Beach is expected to be an additional stop starting at the beginning of 2024.