West Seattle Water Taxi
Encyclopedia
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.
from Pier 50 on the downtown Seattle waterfront
to the Seacrest dock in West Seattle. The ferry's crossing time is approximately ten minutes, and the fare is $3.00 for adults if paid by ORCA Card
. The water taxi operates seven days a week from April 5 to October 30. The route operates extended hours on Fridays when the Mariners
, Sounders
, or Seahawks
play games that start after 7pm.
The ferry is used for commuting, getting as many as 1,500 riders daily in July and August, 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.
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.
The first licensed ferry in the Seattle area 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.
Prior to that time, the old so-called Mosquito Fleet
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 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. In 2010, water taxi
service will operate year-round with a new vessel and accessibility improvements at the Seacrest dock.
King County Ferry District
The King County Ferry District is a special-purpose district in King County, Washington that owns and operates passenger ferry services. Its governing board of directors is composed of all nine members of the Metropolitan King County Council...
. 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.
Downtown Seattle/West Seattle
The West Seattle route crosses Elliott BayElliott Bay
Elliott Bay is the body of water on which Seattle, Washington, is located. A line drawn from Alki Point in the south to West Point in the north serves to mark the generally accepted division between the bay and the open sound...
from Pier 50 on the downtown Seattle waterfront
Central Waterfront, Seattle
The Central Waterfront of Seattle, in the state of Washington, USA, is the most urbanized portion of the Elliott Bay shore. It runs from the Pioneer Square shore roughly northwest past Downtown Seattle and Belltown, ending at the Broad Street site of the Olympic Sculpture Park.The Central...
to the Seacrest dock in West Seattle. The ferry's crossing time is approximately ten minutes, and the fare is $3.00 for adults if paid by ORCA Card
Orca Card
The ORCA ' Card is a contactless, stored value smart card used for payment of public transport fares in the Puget Sound region...
. The water taxi operates seven days a week from April 5 to October 30. The route operates extended hours on Fridays when the Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, Sounders
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
, or Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
play games that start after 7pm.
The ferry is used for commuting, getting as many as 1,500 riders daily in July and August, 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.
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.
History
West Seattle is the oldest neighborhood 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 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
City of Seattle (steam ferry)
The City of Seattle was a side-wheel driven steam-powered ferry built in 1888. This vessel was the first ferry to operate on Puget Sound. City of Seattle was also used in the San Francisco Bay area starting in 1913. The ferry was known as YFB54 when owned by the U.S...
and made two trips a day, carrying West Seattle homesteaders east to the city, and weekend vacationers west to the beachfront.
Prior to that time, the old so-called Mosquito Fleet
Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet
The Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet was a large number of private transportation companies running smaller passenger and freight boats on Puget Sound and nearby waterways and rivers. This large group of steamers and sternwheelers plied the waters of Puget Sound, stopping at every waterfront dock...
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
Duwamish River
The Duwamish River is the name of the lower of Washington state's Green River. Its industrialized estuary is known as the Duwamish Waterway.- History :...
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 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
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
game in nearby Safeco Field
Safeco Field
Safeco Field is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and has a seating capacity of 47,878 for baseball...
.
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. In 2010, water taxi
Water taxi
A water taxi or water bus, also known as a commuter boat, is a watercraft used to provide public transport, usually but not always in an urban environment. Service may be scheduled with multiple stops, operating in a similar manner to a bus, or on demand to many locations, operating in a similar...
service will operate year-round with a new vessel and accessibility improvements at the Seacrest dock.