As Houston looks to the future, developers and city officials are searching for alternative ways of travels. Proposed ideas so far have included everything from trains to gondolas, to (not kidding) flying taxis. Brad Freels, CEO of Midway, is proposing a similar alternative, a water taxi service by way of the Buffalo Bayou.
As stated, Freels is the CEO of Midway – a Houston-based developer with a combined 4.2 million square feet of mixed-use space across Houston. Among its many concepts in Houston, include GreenStreet, Memorial Green, Watermark District, and East River.
As reported by Houston Business Journal, Freels has been lobbying John Whitmire and city officials for the past year in efforts to bring a water taxi service to Houston’s Buffalo Bayou.
According to HBJ’s reporting, Freels believes that implementing a water taxi service in Houston would require minimal added infrastructure. Furthermore, the service would benefit the city’s tourism industry and to the revitalization of Downtown:
“It drives me crazy that Houston doesn’t take advantage of what we have to become a cultural hub and a tourist hub, because it’s there. We just don’t take advantage of it” said Freels earlier this January at Bisnow’s Houston Executive Market Kickoff event.
As per Whitmire, the Houston mayor acknowledged discussions with Freels, though has stated that implementation of the service would require substantially more planning:
“I am working with the City of Houston Planning Department to develop a plan and review questions about costs, location, safety and who funds the project”.
Freels stated that Houston ideally would have the water taxi service ready to go ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
“It’s the shortest putt that can make the biggest difference in how Houston is perceived”, said Freels.