West Seattle Blog… | The “highway” space we’re not using

natinstl July 2, 2007 (3:04 pm)

I wouldn’t mind it since I work downtown, but they would have to make the shuttle more readily available or have more bus service available from the dock. The last time I took the water taxi it took me almost an hour and a half between lining up at Argosy, to catching the shuttle, being dropped off at the Junction and walking home from there. The bus is still a shorter commute for the time being.

max July 2, 2007 (6:27 pm)

During the “what to do with the viaduct?” foldelrol, Danny Westneat in the Times had a suggestion that we run 99 across the Bay, on a big old suspension bridge. Needless to say, the idea didn’t fly.

dq July 2, 2007 (10:52 pm)

i took the water taxi home early this evening when the Cascadia folks were riding over to Salty’s. we got to take a larger boat (which was fun to be on when they docked) over to WS in order to accommodate the crowd. some of us regular commuters were a bit surprised that not one of the “think tank” people bothered to ask any of us a single question about our thoughts on year-round commuting via water. guess that shouldn’t be a surprise, but….

dq July 2, 2007 (10:52 pm)

i took the water taxi home early this evening when the Cascadia folks were riding over to Salty’s. we got to take a larger boat (which was fun to be on when they docked) over to WS in order to accommodate the crowd. some of us regular commuters were a bit surprised that not one of the “think tank” people bothered to ask any of us a single question about our thoughts on year-round commuting via water. guess that shouldn’t be a surprise, but….

The House July 3, 2007 (7:11 am)

The Water Taxi is fun to ride, but doesn’t make sense for those of us in the Faunleroy/Westwood area since we have to drive/bus to Alki (not time efficient). I’m wondering if it is physically possible to have a ferry run from down South (ie around the 1st ave bridge/Michigan Steet) into Downtown? Would there be a large enough demand?

Gina July 3, 2007 (8:07 am)

Pretty much everyone that is riding the water taxi at this point is the peak regular crowd. I would say that unless an unusual event occurs (bridge closure, viaduct closure) there are not going to be more riders. natinstl brings up some of the problems that need to be looked at if a larger ridership is needed in the future.

I-5 closure may or may not increase ridership, those using I-5 or I-90 are not going to be using the water taxi.

I live a 1/2 a mile from the Water Taxi, and it adds 2 hours to my round trip commute compared to the Metro bus when factoring in schedules, arrivals and departures. And it would cost $24.00 more per week than Metro.

I could afford the Water Taxi, I am in the prime area to take the water taxi, and I don’t. I imagine that 95% of those that work downtown and live in West Seattle and don’t take the water taxi WOULD with only a change of one or two factors.

PT July 3, 2007 (9:06 am)

What if there was a commuting option that was faster, cheaper, healthier, carbon neutral, always ran on YOUR schedule, never got grid locked, helped you lose weight, was much more fun, and got you outdoors in this beautiful place we call home?

Yes, bicycle commuting does all that and more. 20 minutes at a leisurely, non sweaty pace to get from ferry terminal to ferry terminal at each end. Bike paths or bike lanes the entire distance. Saves the $3 fare each way (not to mention gas, parking, insurance, maintenance, loan payments if you drive). Plus you cold ditch that gym membership saving even more time and money.

It is a beautiful, safe, easy commute. Once you get used to it, you will end up looking forward to your commuting time instead of dreading it.

Sue July 3, 2007 (9:21 am)

Gina, if you have the monthly Puget Pass ($54 for a one zone pass), there is no extra charge for the water taxi, FYI.
I took the water taxi for the first time last week, and it took me about 1-1/2 hours door to door between the time waiting for the taxi, waiting for the shuttle to leave, and walking home from the shuttle. In comparison, it takes me 25 minutes door-to-door when I take the bus home. Hardly worth it, unless there is some problem that prohibits me from taking the bus or I’ve got time to kill.

JE July 3, 2007 (9:28 am)

The above comments underscore the importance of frequency for transit ridership–people will tend to use the method that saves the most time. If the water taxis ran every 10 minutes, they’d be more convenient (for people just trying to go downtown from Alki). It’s true for buses as well: if the buses ran every 10 minutes (and didn’t get stuck in traffic), many more people would take them in preference to cars.

eric July 3, 2007 (9:59 am)

JE – re buses stuck in traffic… if SDOT and Metro worked together to rebuild the Spokane St. viaduct to allow for the bus lane on the bridge to be extended to a new offramp that would connect to the 5th Ave busway, buses from WS would have a clear shot from the bridge all the way into the bus tunnel.

simple solution.

Gina July 3, 2007 (11:33 am)

I can’t figure out why Metro doesn’t use that T-4 for West Seattle. Would be faster than the viaduct for the expresses in the morning–And most people get off the buses at the first stop at first and union and head up the hill and south.

Actual cost analysis for time and money–

Water Taxi per month–12 hours added commute time.

Price? per month– Water taxi, $48.00, Metro, 22.80. (I use tickets because I work a mixed schedule, with weekends, free or cheap parking downtown on Sunday or Saturday.)

It isn’t what the right or the wrong of the water taxi, it is about what the tipping point is for using it. And if it becomes year round, they will need a larger ridership.

Benjamin July 3, 2007 (1:37 pm)

I take the Water Taxi from time to time, usually just because I like being on the water. The only time I ever go out of my way to take it is when there’s a baseball game, since games seem to invariably make 1st Ave downtown a complete mess and slow down all the buses to West Seattle. Otherwise, the Water Taxi is simply ineffective as a transit scheme because it takes noticeably longer than the bus (about 70 minutes vs. 50 minutes in my 2-buses-required case).

In my case, an express shuttle to the Junction would help, but every time I’ve taken the shuttle, only one or two people go all the way to the Junction, so the express option probably doesn’t make sense economically.

At the end of the day, the fastest way for me to commute is by bike, which takes only 30-35 minutes — almost twice as fast as traveling by bus!

Jen July 4, 2007 (6:44 am)

Any monthly Metro bus pass (even the $.50/trip pass that costs $18/month) will get you onto the water taxi at no extra charge. Sounds odd, but that’s the way the fare rules are set up.

While the idea of the water taxi is good, except for riders in or near the Admiral district, it generally takes less time to ride the bus (or bike). I live near SSCC and would be downtown on a bus in less time than it would take me to take two different buses to even get to the water taxi terminal.