| Locale | West Seattle, Washington |
|---|---|
| Waterway | Elliott Bay |
| Transit type | Water taxi |
| Operator | King County Ferry District |
| No. of lines | 2 |
| No. of vessels | 2 |
| No. of terminals | 2 |
| Owner | King County Ferry District |
| Website | http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/Marine/WaterTaxi.aspx King County Metro |
The King County Water Taxi is a service operated by the King County Ferry District. It operates two routes, the West Seattle/Downtown Seattle Route (formerly known as Elliott Bay Water Taxi and West Seattle Water Taxi) and the Vashon Island/Downtown Seattle route.[1]
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The West Seattle route crosses Elliott Bay from Pier 50 on the downtown Seattle waterfront to the Seacrest dock in West Seattle. The ferry's crossing time is approximately ten minutes,[2] and the fare is $3.00 for adults if paid by ORCA Card.[2] The water taxi operates seven days a week from April 5 to October 30.[2] The route operates extended hours on Fridays when the Mariners, Sounders, or Seahawks play games that start after 7pm.[3]
The ferry is used for commuting, getting as many as 1,500 riders daily in July and August,[4] and has even become a popular tourist attraction due to Seacrest park's beautiful views, the short walk to Alki Beach and the restaurants in West Seattle.[5]
King County Ferry District also operates two bus shuttle routes that connect to Seacrest Dock. Route 775 connects to the Admiral District and route 773 connects to the West Seattle Junction.
West Seattle is the oldest neighborhood [6] and the birthplace of the city of Seattle. It is surrounded on three sides by water and has both enjoyed and suffered its isolation from the "mainland" of downtown Seattle.
The first licensed ferry in the Seattle area[7] launched on December 24, 1888 traveled from Seacrest Park in West Seattle to downtown Seattle, as well as other water-bound location throughout the Puget Sound. It was a steam-powered sidewheel ship named the City of Seattle and made two trips a day, carrying West Seattle homesteaders east to the city, and weekend vacationers west to the beachfront.[8]
Prior to that time, the old so-called Mosquito Fleet[9] of steam powered boats carried travelers to and from numerous islands and peninsulas in the Puget Sound area. The West Seattle Water Taxi was discontinued when the first bridge across the Duwamish River was built.
Over time, a succession of bridges were installed to connect the West Seattle peninsula to downtown proper, beginning with the old wood-and-rail Spokane Street bridge in 1920. In 1970, calls for a modern solution brought attention to the growing problem of commuting to downtown; in 1978, the freighter ship Chavez crashed into the lower bridge[10] requiring a new high rise bridge that is still the main path into and out of West Seattle today.
As West Seattle has grown in popularity, travel in and out of the city has become more congested. The Water Taxi was brought back to life in 1998 by King County Metro and has been the subject of much debate ever since. It is a particular favorite of those catching a Mariners baseball game in nearby Safeco Field.
The King County Ferry District now operates it from April to October, carrying between 500 and 1,000 people downtown everyday. For the 2009 season, the service was renamed from the Elliot Bay Water Taxi to the King County Water Taxi.[11] In 2010, water taxi service will operate year-round with a new vessel and accessibility improvements at the Seacrest dock.[2]
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