Southern Californians could soon have a way to escape the region’s bumper-to-bumper freeways: a high-speed ferry along the coast.
Long Beach is advancing plans for the Pier-to-Pier ferry network, which would link coastal communities from Malibu to the South Bay and give commuters and visitors an alternative to the area’s notoriously congested roads.
The proposed service would connect seven destinations: Long Beach, San Pedro, Redondo Beach Harbor, Venice Pier, Marina del Rey, Santa Monica Pier and Malibu Pier.
Long Beach officials announced this week that Pier-to-Pier has entered an operational partnership with Harbor Breeze, a local maritime company that would assist with launching and maintaining the ferry system.
“Pier-to-Pier has established an operational partnership with Harbor Breeze, a seasoned Long
Beach based California‑licensed maritime operator, to support the launch and long‑term
reliability of its high‑speed coastal ferry network,” the city said in a memo.
“This partnership also leverages Harbor Breeze’s current position as a commercial tenant in San
Pedro and downtown Long Beach at Rainbow Harbor,” officials added.
Rainbow Harbor is expected to become the network’s first Long Beach docking location. Belmont Pier and Alamitos Bay are also under consideration as future stops.
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The city has already approved an $8.9 million budget for two projects focused on constructing and improving Belmont Pier.
When service begins, the ferry network would offer connections to other transportation systems, including “LA Metro (E and A Lines), Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus, LAX shuttle networks, and local coastal shuttles.”
The memo issued Thursday followed the City Council’s unanimous 6-0 vote on April 7 to take formal steps toward creating the Pier-to-Pier system.
The proposed boat service could also significantly reduce travel times compared with driving.
A journey from Malibu to Santa Monica typically takes more than 32 minutes by car but is projected to take about 18 minutes by ferry.
The project is also being developed ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, when officials expect the coastal ferry service to provide another transportation option.
