West Seattle Water Taxi to continue midday and weekend sailings through winter

SUMMARY

This fall and winter, the King County Water Taxi will continue to be a transportation option for riders going to and from West Seattle. On Monday, Oct. 17, the West Seattle Water Taxi will continue providing midday and weekend sailings between downtown Seattle’s Pier 50 and Seacrest Dock in West Seattle.

STORY

The seven-day-a-week service will run from approximately 6 a.m. weekdays (8:30 a.m. weekends) to 7 p.m. Weekday sailings leaving the dock every 35 minutes during peak commute hours and every hour during the mid-day, and on weekends. There will be no Friday or Saturday sailings after 7 p.m.

“The water taxi is a valuable part of Seattle's transit infrastructure and extending the current seven-day-a-week sailing schedule is an opportunity to continue providing convenient and reliable options that allow people to stay out of their cars and get where they need to go,” said County Executive Dow Constantine.

During commute hours, riders can take the free Metro shuttles to and from the Water Taxi landing at Seacrest Park. Route 773 serves the West Seattle junction. Route 775 serves the Admiral District and Alki.

“Continuing Water Taxi service at this level makes the service a better option for everyone commuting between West Seattle and downtown Seattle,” said King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, whose district includes West Seattle. “See you on the boat!”

During the repair of the West Seattle High Bridge, the Water Taxi provided a choice for those not wanting to drive to and from West Seattle. There was enough ridership during the winter season that Metro has chosen to maintain service for riders who want to continue using the Water Taxi instead of returning to their vehicles with the reopening of the High Bridge. This pilot program for this fall and winter, which will also provide more consistent scheduling for Water Taxi crews, will be used to evaluate potential ongoing year-round service. In preparation for the start of the winter sailing schedule, Water Taxi staff will be conducting vessel maintenance on Oct. 15-16, so West Seattle service will be canceled for that weekend.

Adult water taxi fare is $5.75 one way ($5.00 with an ORCA card), and remember youth are now free on the Water Taxi! There are also fare options available to reduce the cost of riding the Water Taxi. Go to Metro’s Reduced Fare Portal for more information on seeing if you’re eligible for an ORCA LIFT card or a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) card.