India, Jan. 23 -- South Florida commuters travelling to or from the beach might be able to save some time and money by getting off the roads and onto the water. Officials launched a free water taxi service on Tuesday, with 40-foot (12-metre) boats carrying up to 55 people each for a scenic 20-minute ride across Biscayne Bay between Miami and Miami Beach.

Miami Beach transportation director Jose Gonzalez said the eventual goal of the service is to reduce commuter traffic between the cities. "Currently our causeways are at capacity, our roadways are at capacity," Gonzalez said. "Yet we haven't explored our waterways as a means of mobility."

The water taxi service will operate from the docks at Maurice Gibb Memorial Park in Miami Beach and...