P.S. – it’s not the Elliott Bay Water Taxi any more

March 19, 2009 at 6:24 pm | In Elliott Bay Water Taxi, King County Water Taxi, Transportation | 24 Comments

**NOTE – SINCE THE SERVICE’S NAME HAS CHANGED, STORIES NEWER THAN THIS ONE ARE CATALOGUED IN OUR “KING COUNTY WATER TAXI” CATEGORY, HERE**

Since our Water Taxi update this morning, its website has been updated with all of this year’s information, including schedules – and you’ll notice one big thing: It’s not the Elliott Bay Water Taxi any more; it’s the King County Water Taxi. Online info starts here; note that the KCWT will now run till late evening 7 nights a week, among other changes.

24 Comments

  1. Leave it to our wonderful leaders to take away a descriptive, prosaic name and replace it with the mundane name of government.

    Comment by david fox — 7:03 pm March 19, 2009 #

  2. Yes, how imaginative! Have charm and creativity been outlawed along with plastic bags?

    Party affiliation is irrelevant. We need to vote our inept city and county officials out of office ASAP.

    Comment by rockyraccoon — 8:38 pm March 19, 2009 #

  3. I wish the water taxi had run this afternoon. The Sounder game reduced traffic to a crawl going south out of downtown.

    Comment by Admiral Janeway — 8:42 pm March 19, 2009 #

  4. Whose brilliant idea was it to change the name? Perhaps we can ask Dow Constantine, the popular “patron saint” of the ELLIOTT BAY Water Taxi. Let’s face it; we’re still going to use the original, more evocative name, or just “water taxi” for short. If we don’t use the boring new name, it will fade into bureaucratic oblivion.

    Comment by jeannie — 8:59 pm March 19, 2009 #

  5. Oh, and David, I don’t think “prosaic” is the word you wanted, but I think I know what you meant. :)

    Comment by rockyraccoon — 8:59 pm March 19, 2009 #

  6. It makes perfectly good sense to rename it the King County Water Taxi. I’m sure everyone is aware, Elliot Bay isn’t going to be the only location where King County operates or will operate water taxis, there are plans for water taxis at multiple other locations: Renton and Kenmore on Lake Washington and other places on Puget Sound like Shilshole and Des Moines besides the Vashon route that already exists. http://www.kingcounty.gov/council/ferry_district.aspx

    By having the same signs on all of the boats just calling them King County Water Taxis, when they have a fleet of boats, they will be able to use any of the boats on any route without confusion. Further, street and dock signage for all King County Water Taxis will all be the same so that people realize no matter which water taxi they are taking it is part of the King County Water Taxi system.

    Comment by Alcina — 9:40 pm March 19, 2009 #

  7. Taxpayers from all over King County pay for it, so I think it fair that the whole county be acknowledged in the name.

    Comment by lorax — 10:00 pm March 19, 2009 #

  8. Wow, Alcina, I hear what you’re saying but it makes weak logic in comparison to common sense. We already know what we’re used to calling the boat, and it fits because it is descriptive and specific, especially in light of the reasons you illuminate, that there will be multiple water taxis. By calling it Elliott Bay Water Taxi we can specify which of the many KCWTs we mean. Fleet vehicles can all say King County Water Taxi and still be on individually named routes. And just how does having street and dock signage be the same at all locations help anyone figure out exactly where they are?

    Comment by Luis Antezana — 10:08 pm March 19, 2009 #

  9. What ever its called, I LOVE the Water Taxi! I think it was smart to give the two routes the land shuttle takes different numbers. That will help tourists and locals alike to find the proper bus to take. Its going to be WONDERFUL! I will miss the charm of the “Elliott Bay Water Taxi” as much as the little old “West Seattle Street Fair,” now West Seattle’s “Summerfest!” Progress is progress. I think this new ride will still have all the same breath taking views and Happy people!
    THANK YOU for keeping everyone up to date about this!

    Comment by Living in West Seattle since 1985 — 10:23 pm March 19, 2009 #

  10. It’d be nice if they extended the shuttles with the extended hours. As it stands, I would have no use for coming back to WS on the water taxi late because buses stop running down there and there is no shuttle, so you’re basically stuck there.

    Comment by J.See — 10:27 pm March 19, 2009 #

  11. No big deal, but changing the name seems like a pointless waste of new stationery costs during a county budget crisis. Also, it suggests the water taxi will be serving any number of county waters in addition to Elliott Bay.

    Comment by Forest — 11:41 pm March 19, 2009 #

  12. From the site:

    For all weekday evening games, the Water Taxi will operate an extended Friday sailing schedule to accommodate Mariner fans returning to West Seattle after the game.

    What does this mean? Their Monday-Friday schedule has the same last sailing for all weekdays – maybe the “extended” sailing is for Fri. only, and leaves after the regular 10:30 sailing? Can’t really trust the WT to be there after a game if the sailing times are confusing like that.

    Comment by Michael — 12:49 am March 20, 2009 #

  13. good. now it is more clear who is paying for this boondoggle!

    Comment by eric — 5:56 am March 20, 2009 #

  14. Don’t our “county fathers” have bigger things to worry about. Talk about priorities that are ignoring. Look at all the $$$ that can be spent changing the signs. Wow!

    Comment by obison — 7:36 am March 20, 2009 #

  15. Call it whatever the hell you want, just ride it.

    Comment by austin — 7:41 am March 20, 2009 #

  16. It will always be Admiral Pete to me.

    Comment by Amy — 8:40 am March 20, 2009 #

  17. Ditto to Austin!

    Comment by JH — 9:24 am March 20, 2009 #

  18. As long as they don’t call it Queen Anne Thriftway water taxi. ;P

    Comment by Gina — 9:37 am March 20, 2009 #

  19. Reminds me of that old line:
    Call me anything, but don’t call me late for supper.
    Glad that there is another transportation option for WS!

    Comment by carraig na splinkeen — 9:41 am March 20, 2009 #

  20. Kind of like renaming King County to King County. Maybe Elliott Bay should be renamed also to aid in confusion and expense. I want public money to play with too!

    Comment by Silly City (County) — 10:29 am March 20, 2009 #

  21. I would not be surprised if this rename is simply to get broader awareness/support for the Water Taxi so that in fact it can be expanded.

    Either way, like others have said, call it what you want….just use it.

    Comment by mj — 3:34 pm March 20, 2009 #

  22. Does anyone know if dogs are allowed on the water taxi?

    Comment by Meghan — 7:04 pm March 20, 2009 #

  23. I’m sure they’d let a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
    But maybe not if he’s named Elliott.

    Comment by Denny — 9:10 pm March 20, 2009 #

  24. They can call it the “S.S. Nickels” for all I care…just as long as it runs!

    Comment by nic — 6:14 pm March 21, 2009 #

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