Reminder – King County Water Taxi (WS) is docked till spring

Thanks to David Hutchinson for that Saturday shot from Seacrest, as the King County Water Taxi‘s West Seattle-downtown runs were in their final hours of the season. The county website says simply it’ll be back in the spring – but much is in play till then – tomorrow’s election, for one, since County Executive candidate Susan Hutchison has criticized the King County Ferry District (including the Water Taxi); then there’s the district’s budget for next year – according to this notice, a public hearing is set for one week from today; see the budget here – it lays out the plan for the Water Taxi to resume service next April as a year-round operation. But first, those Seacrest dock improvements recently signed off on by the city need to be made, too.

GenHillOne November 2, 2009 (9:44 am)

So this is probably an obvious question, but I’m assuming that it means the Metro Water Taxi Shuttle route is also done now? It was very handy for the not-quite-driving-yet crowd when wanting to go down to the beach.

rw November 2, 2009 (9:59 am)

The Metro Water Taxi Shuttle is done for the year.

I support the water taxi, but in a time of fiscal austerity I don’t understand why these shuttle bus routes were free. That never seemed right to me.

When (or if) the water taxi comes back, I think they should charge for the shuttle buses.

JanS November 2, 2009 (12:57 pm)

so, rw, you would have to pay to get to the water taxi, then pay to take the taxi? Actually, I suppose one could use a transfer on the water taxi, and do it that way, but then why have a separate shuttle at all. Just increase bus frequency. I’m sure they have studied that, and taken that into consideration. Wonder what an official answer would be to that?

What charge (how much) would you like to see on the shuttle?

gidget November 2, 2009 (3:51 pm)

i was so sad to take the bus this morning :(

Living in West Seattle since 1985 November 2, 2009 (5:10 pm)

Miss it already! Can’t wait for it to go year round! I hope they keep the land shuttle too, even if it needs a bus fare/transfer like any other route. The shuttle is nice because it meets up with the boat and it services the Alki ave/ beach reguarly. It services the Admiral & Alki beach loop when the 37 and 53 are not as regularly run.

rw November 3, 2009 (7:54 am)

Jan,

I don’t have an axe to grind with the shuttles. Heck, they’ve made my life simpler because I don’t have to drive down to the dock when my wife returns home from downtown in the evening. But in a time of severe budget crises the county council will be looking long and hard at the water taxi and ALL related costs. And that applies whether Dow or Susan H win today’s election.

I don’t know how you’d price the shuttle service. Charging for a transfer or having a combo ticket price makes sense.

Then there are the people who just use the shuttle as a convenient way to get to-from the Junction and Alki. Is the convenience worth a buck or so? Why should that be a free ride?