This could be your next boat ride: SA River floats fleet of boats

​​​​SAN ANTONIO is another step closer to launching a new fleet of boats for the San Antonio River. ​

Houston-based design firm Metalab has delivered a prototype craft to the City of San Antonio. 

And according to Assistant City Manager Lori Houston, San Antonio and its partners will spend the next four weeks testing the prototype and making design changes, if needed.

“The city will award a contract for the fleet’s fabrication in December,” Houston said. “We anticipate it will take approximately seven to eight months to build the fleet.”

Houston added that officials expect to award a contract in early 2017 to a new operator who will lease the new fleet of boats.

Metalab was ultimately chosen to create the design for a new fleet of boats that will be owned by the city and set sail prior to San Antonio’s Tricentennial Celebration in 2018.

The hope among local leaders is that a new fleet of boats will attract more visitors to the River Walk and also provide a more enticing transportation option for locals looking to navigate the downtown area.​