King County Water Taxi

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King County Water Taxi
King County Water Taxi logo.svg
MV Sally Fox.jpg
MV Sally Fox on the Vashon/Downtown Seattle route
Locale King County, Washington
Waterway Puget Sound
Transit type Water taxi
Owner King County
OperatorKing County Metro Transit Department, Marine Division
Began operation1997 (27 years ago)
System lengthVashon Island: 10 miles
West Seattle: 2 miles
No. of lines2
No. of vessels3
No. of terminals3
Daily ridershipVashon Island: 752 (Dec. 2016) West Seattle: 521 (Dec. 2016) [1]
Website King County Water Taxi

The King County Water Taxi is a passenger-only fast ferry service operated by the King County Metro Transit Department, Marine Division. It operates two routes between Downtown Seattle and West Seattle or Vashon Island.

Contents

History

Early ferries of Puget Sound

West Seattle is the oldest neighborhood [2] 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.

Between 1850 and 1930, hundreds of small, steam-powered ferries called the Mosquito Fleet [3] carried travelers to and from numerous islands and peninsulas in the Puget Sound area, including West Seattle and Vashon Island.

The first licensed ferry in the Seattle area [4] 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. [5] The service was discontinued when the first bridge across the Duwamish River was built.

Over on Vashon Island, the passenger-only ferries were discontinued as the Mosquito Fleet faced increasing competition from the diesel-powered auto ferries. Vashon Island residents could now drive their vehicles onto a ferry to the Fauntleroy terminal in West Seattle.

Over time, a succession of bridges was 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 [6] spurring the city to build the high-level West Seattle Bridge and the low-level Spokane Street Bridge that are still the primary paths into and out of peninsula today. As West Seattle has grown in popularity, travel in and out of the peninsula has become more congested.

Elliott Bay Water Taxi

The Sightseer served as the second Elliott Bay Water Taxi. Elliott Bay Water Taxi.jpg
The Sightseer served as the second Elliott Bay Water Taxi.

The Elliott Bay Water Taxi started service in 1997 as a pilot project to give commuters an alternative to the congested West Seattle Bridge and Highway 99. The Water Taxi was operated by King County and only ran between April and October. King County leased the M/V Admiral Pete from Kitsap Harbor Tours (via Argosy Cruises) and later the M/V Sightseer from Argosy Cruises to operate the service. The vessel was only capable of traveling 8 knots, but the slow speeds proved popular with both commuters and tourists. The ferry quickly became a popular tourist attraction due to the view of the Seattle skyline as the vessel crosses Elliott Bay, the short walk to Alki Beach and the restaurants in West Seattle. [7]

Vashon passenger-only ferry

The passenger-only ferry service between Vashon Island and Downtown Seattle started as a service of the Washington State Ferries in the early 1990s. The ferries proved popular with commuters as they offered a much faster connection to downtown Seattle than the alternative of taking the auto ferry to Fauntleroy and driving or taking transit to downtown. [8] In 2006, the state legislature ordered Washington State Ferries to discontinue all passenger-only ferry services, [9] but simultaneously enabled local authorities to form Ferry Districts with tax-collecting authority. The last run operated by the Washington State Ferries vessels came in September 2009. [10]

King County Ferry District

In April 2007 the county formed the special-purpose King County Ferry District to take over operations of both the West Seattle and Vashon Island passenger-only ferries. The district is funded through a property tax levied on all property in the county. [11] The ferry district took over operation of the West Seattle/Downtown Seattle route from King County on April 27, 2008. [12]

King County Water Taxi at Seattle's Pier 50 in 2010 King County Water Taxi.jpg
King County Water Taxi at Seattle's Pier 50 in 2010

In April 2009, the West Seattle route was renamed from the Elliott Bay Water Taxi to the King County Water Taxi. [13] Later that year, on September 28, 2009, the Vashon Island/Downtown Seattle route was transferred from Washington State Ferries and became the second King County Water Taxi Route. [14] King County Ferry District leased the catamaran MV Melissa Ann from Four Seasons Marine Services to operate the Vashon Island route. In addition to being more stable, the catamaran was also faster than the ships operated by the Washington State Ferries reducing travel time from 30 to 22 minutes. [14]

In April 2010, the West Seattle route began operating year-round service from a newly rebuilt dock at Seacrest Park that allowed for wheelchair access. [15] At the same time the West Seattle route started operating with the catamaran MV Rachel Marie (a sister ship of the Melissa Ann), also leased from Four Seasons Marine Services. The leased Sightseer was returned to Argosy Cruises. [16]

In March 2013, the District added a third vessel to its fleet by acquiring the MV Spirit of Kingston that had been previously used on the failed SoundRunner ferry between Kingston and Downtown Seattle. The Spirit of Kingston is the first vessel to be owned by the ferry district. It was assigned to the West Seattle route [17] where its smaller size, and more efficient engines proved a better fit than the Rachel Marie. The new vessel allowed the Rachel Marie to serve as a backup, saving the district on rental and lease expenses.

In 2014, the district received federal grants that allowed it to purchase two ships specifically designed for the needs of the King County Water Taxi. [18]

King County Department of Transportation

In late 2014 the King County Council (made up of the same members as the King County Ferry District) voted to assume governance of the King County Ferry District. The consolidation of the district into county government saves money by eliminating redundant functions. [19]

As of January 1, 2015, the King County Ferry District ceased to exist, and the King County Water Taxi became a service of the Marine Division of the King County Department of Transportation.

December 2014 saw the arrival of the first new vessel for the King County Water Taxi, the MV Sally Fox. After undergoing tests, the new ferry was placed into service on the Vashon Island/Downtown Seattle route on April 8, 2015. [20] The addition of the Sally Fox to the fleet allowed the leased Rachel Marie to be returned to Four Seasons Marine Services in December 2014.

The second new vessel, the MV Doc Maynard was delivered in October 2015 and after modifications were made to the dock at Seacrest Park, the new ship began service on the West Seattle/Downtown Seattle route on January 7, 2016. [21] The arrival of the Doc Maynard allowed the Spirit of Kingston to become the backup ship for King County and allowed the leased Melissa Ann to be returned to Four Seasons Marine Services in November 2015.

The interior of the 2019 Pier 50 passenger ferry terminal. Pier 50 Water Taxi Terminal (interior), Doc Maynard in background.jpg
The interior of the 2019 Pier 50 passenger ferry terminal.

A new passenger ferry terminal at Colman Dock opened on August 13, 2019, to serve the King County Water Taxi and Kitsap Fast Ferries at Pier 50. For two years, passenger ferries were diverted to a temporary terminal to the north at Pier 52 while the old dock was demolished. [22]

On January 1, 2019, King County Department of Transportation was dissolved and the Metro Transit Division became its own department, King County Metro Transit Department. The Marine Division is now part of the Metro Transit Department. [23]

On November 2, 2023, the captain and crew of the Doc Maynard spotted a runaway container ship that was floating adrift towards the Seattle Aquarium. They used the ferry to push the barge away from the waterfront, taking no damage and only falling 15 minutes behind in taxi operations. [24] [25] The captain and crew were later honored by the King County Council and Seattle Kraken. [26] [27]

Routes

West Seattle–Seattle

The MV Doc Maynard at the new (as of August 2017) temporary King County Water Taxi terminal at Pier 52, on the north side of the Seattle Ferry Terminal. This boat serves the West Seattle-Seattle route. King County Water Taxi at Pier 52.jpg
The MV Doc Maynard at the new (as of August 2017) temporary King County Water Taxi terminal at Pier 52, on the north side of the Seattle Ferry Terminal. This boat serves the West Seattle–Seattle route.

The West Seattle–Seattle route crosses Elliott Bay between Pier 50 on the downtown Seattle waterfront and Seacrest Park in West Seattle. The ferry's crossing time is approximately ten minutes during weekday commute hours and approximately 15 minutes at all other times. [15] As of January 2016, the primary ferry for the route is the MV Doc Maynard.

Year round the ferry operates weekdays during the peak commuting hours, [15] carrying an average of 1,742 passengers during the commute hours in December 2014. [28] The Water Taxi runs seven days a week with early morning commute sailings on Monday through Friday. [29] Service operates on holidays during the peak season (April–October) but not during the winter season.

King County Metro operates two shuttle bus routes that take passengers to and from the dock at Seacrest Park. Route 773 connects to the West Seattle Junction and route 775 connects to the Admiral District and Alki Beach.

Vashon Island–Seattle

The Vashon Island–Seattle route operates commuter service between Pier 50 on the downtown Seattle waterfront and Vashon Island. There are six sailings in either direction every weekday, three for the morning commute and three for the evening commute. Each crossing takes approximately 22 minutes. [30] As of mid 2015, the primary ferry for the route is MV Sally Fox, which carries an average of 400 passengers per day in each direction.

At the Vashon Island Ferry Terminal, connecting services include King County Metro bus routes 118 and 119 and Washington State Ferries with routes to both the city of Southworth in Kitsap County and the Fauntleroy terminal in West Seattle.

Fares

As of September 1, 2022, the one-way fares for the King County Water Taxi are: [31] [32]

Fare typeWest SeattleVashon Island
AdultCash or TVM Ticket$5.75$6.75
ORCA$5.00$5.75
Senior (65+) / Disabled / Medicare
(Regional Reduced Fare Permit required)		$2.50$3.00
Youth (0 to 18 years) [33] FreeFree
Low income
(ORCA LIFT card required)		$3.75$4.50

Crew members accept ORCA with a hand-held card reader, or passengers can pay with cash (no change given) or a pre-purchased tickets at the farebox on the vessel. [15] Tickets can be purchased with credit or debit cards at vending machines located at each water taxi terminal.

Fleet

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King County, Washington</span> County in Washington, United States

King County is located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population was 2,269,675 in the 2020 census, making it the most populous county in Washington, and the 13th-most populous in the United States. The county seat is Seattle, also the state's most populous city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elliott Bay</span> Inlet in Seattle, Washington

Elliott Bay is a part of the Central Basin region of Puget Sound. It is in the U.S. state of Washington, extending southeastward between West Point in the north and Alki Point in the south. Seattle was founded on this body of water in the 1850s and has since grown to encompass it completely. The waterway it provides to the Pacific Ocean has served as a key element of the city's economy, enabling the Port of Seattle to become one of the busiest ports in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vashon, Washington</span> Census-designated place in Washington, United States

Vashon is a census-designated place (CDP) in King County, Washington, United States. It covers an island alternately called Vashon Island or Vashon–Maury Island, the largest island in Puget Sound south of Admiralty Inlet. The population was 10,624 at the 2010 census and the size is 36.9 square miles (95.6 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington State Ferries</span> Public ferry service in Washington, US

Washington State Ferries (WSF) is a government agency that operates automobile and passenger ferry service in the U.S. state of Washington as part of the Washington State Department of Transportation. It runs ten routes serving 20 terminals located around Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands, designated as part of the state highway system. The agency maintains a fleet of 21 vessels. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 17,375,400, or about 58,900 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023. As of 2016, it was the largest ferry operator in the United States and the second-largest vehicular ferry system in the world, after BC Ferries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaska Marine Highway</span> Ferry system serving the U.S. state of Alaska

The Alaska Marine Highway (AMH) or the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is a ferry service operated by the U.S. state of Alaska. It has its headquarters in Ketchikan, Alaska.

MV Skagit was a Skagit Kalama-class passenger ferry originally operated by Washington State Ferries (WSF) from 1989–2009 and then in Tanzania until her sinking in Zanzibar in July 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferries in Washington (state)</span> Overview of ferry transportation in the U.S. state of Washington

The U.S. state of Washington is home to a number of public and private ferry systems, most notably the state-run Washington State Ferries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington State Route 160</span>

State Route 160 (SR 160) is a 7.47-mile-long (12.02 km) long state highway serving Kitsap and King counties in the U.S. state of Washington. The highway begins at an interchange with SR 16 in Port Orchard and travels east to the Southworth ferry terminal, where the route continues onto a ferry to Vashon Heights, the former southern terminus of SR 339, and further east to end at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal in Seattle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington State Route 339</span> Highway in Washington

State Route 339 (SR 339) is a 8.5-nautical-mile-long state highway in the U.S. state of Washington. It is designated on a former state-run ferry route that connected Vashon Island's Vashon Heights ferry terminal to downtown Seattle's Pier 50, via a passenger-only ferry, the MV Skagit. The ferry was financed by the King County Ferry District (KCFD) and tolls collected at Pier 50. Despite being part of the KCFD, the ferry was operated by Washington State Ferries (WSF). SR 339 was one of only four ferry routes providing access to and from Vashon Island, and had the lowest annual average ridership of the four routes. The state of Washington took over the operation of the ferry route in 1951, and designated it SR 339 in 1994. The ferry was discontinued in 2006 and was replaced by a King County Water Taxi route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmonds–Kingston ferry</span> Ferry route in the U.S. state of Washington

The Edmonds–Kingston ferry is a ferry route across Puget Sound between Edmonds and Kingston, Washington. Since 1951 the only ferries employed on the route have belonged to the Washington state ferry system, currently the largest ferry system in the United States. The last regularly operated steam ferry on the West Coast of the United States made its final run on this route in 1969.

MV <i>Spirit of Kingston</i> Passenger-only ferry running between Seattle and West Seattle

MVSpirit of Kingston is a 65-foot (20 m), 149 passenger passenger-only ferry owned and operated as part of the King County Water Taxi fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colman Dock</span> Ferry terminal in Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Colman Dock, also called Pier 52, is the primary ferry terminal in Seattle, Washington, United States. The original pier is no longer in existence, but the terminal, now used by the Washington State Ferries system, is still called "Colman Dock". The terminal serves two routes to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton and has an adjacent passenger-only facility at Pier 50 for King County Water Taxi and Kitsap Fast Ferries routes.

<i>Florence K</i> (steamboat) American steamboat built in 1903

Florence K was a steamboat that was operated on Puget Sound from 1903. This vessel was later renamed Gloria and was rebuilt as a steam ferry and renamed Beeline.

<i>West Seattle</i> (steam ferry) Ship built in 1807

West Seattle was a side-wheel driven steam-powered ferry built in 1907.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Point Defiance–Tahlequah ferry</span> Ferry route in the U.S. state of Washington

The Point Defiance–Tahlequah ferry is a ferry route across Puget Sound between the Point Defiance ferry terminal in Tacoma and Tahlequah, Washington, on the southern tip of Vashon Island. Since 1951 the only ferries employed on the route have belonged to the Washington state ferry system, currently the largest ferry system in the United States. Point Defiance-Tahlequah is the shortest route in the system.

MV <i>Melissa Ann</i> Passenger-only ferry

The Melissa Ann is a 77-foot (23 m), 172 passenger passenger-only ferry owned by Four Seasons Marine and operated by Kitsap Transit as part of the Kitsap Fast Ferries fleet.

MV <i>Rachel Marie</i> Ferry between Skagway and Haines Borough

The Rachel Marie is a 77-foot (23 m), 172 passenger-only ferry operating between Skagway and Haines Borough, Alaska.She is owned by Four Seasons Marine and part of the Haines Skagway Fast Ferry fleet.

MV <i>Sally Fox</i> Passenger-only ferry running between Seattle and Vashon Island

MVSally Fox is a passenger-only ferry built for the King County Water Taxi. The Sally Fox is 104 feet (32 m) long and has a capacity of 278 passengers seated in two indoor decks and outdoor balconies. The aluminum catamaran was built in 2014 by All American Marine in Bellingham, Washington for US$6.25 million, and is used primarily on the Vashon Island–Seattle route. The boat began operating on the Vashon route in April 2015, replacing two leased boats. The vessel was named for Sally Fox, a Vashon Island activist who fought for passenger ferry service to the island. It is the sister ship of the MV Doc Maynard, which entered service in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitsap Fast Ferries</span> Passenger ferry system connecting Seattle to Kitsap County, Washington

Kitsap Fast Ferries is a passenger ferry service operating between Seattle and Kitsap County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is funded and operated by Kitsap Transit and began service in July 2017, with a single boat traveling between Seattle and Bremerton. A second route, from Seattle to Kingston, launched in November 2018, and a third route serving Seattle and Southworth began operating in March 2021. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 791,000, or about 46,700 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

References

  1. ↑ King County Ferry District (January 26, 2017). "2014 King County Water Taxi - About us" . Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  2. ↑ "West Seattle History". HistoryLink.org
  3. ↑ "Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet". HistoryLink.org
  4. ↑ "West Seattle Ferry". HistoryLink.org
  5. ↑ Alki Beach History
  6. ↑ "West Seattle Bridge Chavez accident". Bridgepros.
  7. ↑ Amy Kate Horn (April 25, 2007), "The Poor Man's Yacht", The Stranger , retrieved October 15, 2013
  8. ↑ "Puget Sound Regional Passenger-Only Ferry Study — Executive Summary" (PDF). Puget Sound Regional Council. November 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Mandi (August 14, 2021). "Regional transportation authorities consider passenger-only ferry options". The Journal of the San Juan Islands. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  10. ↑ "State sells ferries Chinook and Snohomish". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. January 21, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  11. ↑ "OPINION: Passenger Ferries: A mobility solution", Seattle Times November 29, 2007 (accessed May 31, 2008)
  12. ↑ Wong, Brad (April 27, 2008). "Seattle's water taxi returns with a splash". Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  13. ↑ "King County Water Taxi Fact Sheet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  14. 1 2 "Catamaran replaces Vashon-Seattle foot ferry". Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber. September 16, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 4 King County Metro information page on Elliott Bay Water Taxi
  16. ↑ "Fleet". Argosy Cruises. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  17. ↑ Spirit of Kingston now part of water taxi fleet, West Seattle Herald, March 18, 2013, retrieved April 5, 2013
  18. ↑ "West Seattle Water Taxi trouble side note: New boats in 2014". West Seattle Blog. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  19. ↑ Record, Tracy (November 9, 2014). "First-ever 'strategic plan' in place, to steer King County Water Taxi service's future". West Seattle Blog. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  20. ↑ "King County Water Taxi News". No. WINTER 2015. King County Water Taxi. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  21. ↑ Whitaker, Denise (January 7, 2016). "New water taxi on Elliott Bay, gears up for viaduct closure". KOMO 4 News . Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  22. ↑ Minnick, Benjamin (August 13, 2019). "New passenger-only ferry terminal opens on Pier 50 near Colman Dock". Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce . Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Metro Transit to become independent county department".
  24. ↑ "With two crew members and passengers on board, this captain stopped a runaway barge from hitting Seattle's waterfront". KING 5 News. November 4, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  25. ↑ "King County Water Taxi intercepts drifting barge as it headed toward Seattle waterfront". KING 5 News. November 2, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  26. ↑ Staff, Gabe Katzman, KOMO News (November 27, 2023). "Captain and crew of water taxi that diverted runaway barge honored for heroics". KOMO. Retrieved February 3, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ↑ "'Disaster avoided!' Water taxi crew that steered boat into runaway barge honored by Kraken". KIRO 7 News Seattle. November 18, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  28. ↑ West Seattle—Average daily commute, King County Marine Division
  29. ↑ "West Seattle/Downtown Seattle Sailing schedule". King County Department of Transportation. March 26, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Water Taxi". King County . Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  31. ↑ "West Seattle Route - Fares". King County . Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Vashon Route - Fares". King County . Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Youth Ride Free". myORCA. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
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