Want to talk about the Water Taxi? ‘Town Hall’ set for June 9

That’s the view from top-deck aft on the way back to West Seattle aboard the Rachel Marie less than an hour ago (8-minute crossing!). Though it’s been running almost two months now, this was our first chance to ride the King County Water Taxi this season (we’d toured the boat at a Ballard shipyard while renovations were under way). Whether you’ve tried the new vessel/new dock or not, you probably have some thoughts about the service – and as we noticed in a flyer posted on board, a Town Hall is coming up in West Seattle to give you a chance to talk about it with King County Councilmember and Ferry District Board Chair Jan Drago. It’s set for 7 pm June 9 at Alki Community Center; here’s the official flyer, from the KCFD website.

foy-boy May 24, 2010 (9:46 pm)

Just another carnival ride. They need to charge what it really cost to ride this taxi. It is nice to know that our king county police dept. is out of money but we still have money for this big waste of money. When are our leaders going to put thee important things first and quit spending it on feel good bs. We need a water taxi like we need a hole in the head. Geezs people just take the bus. Heck there is not even parking for the dam thing. The veiw from atop the bridge is just as nice.

Celeste17 May 24, 2010 (10:27 pm)

Foy-Boy have you had to sit in traffic on a hot afternoon on a bus? It can take an hour if there is an afternoon game, accident, road construction, detours, bridge opening/closing or just good old traffic. I can remember coming home from downtown after the earthquake and it took about two hours to go from 1st and Marion to 40th and Alaska. If we had the water taxi we could have been home in 20 minutes. Just imagine what it will be like when the viaduct closes (and you know it will).

I take the water taxi home from my volunteer job two days a week and I am glad to have the option. I use my bus pass (self paid) to ride the water taxi and it costs me more then the bus so if we are talking about subsides lets talk about what it really costs to ride the bus.

Mike D. May 24, 2010 (10:49 pm)

I use the water taxi almost daily & it’s a great way to get to and from downtown. No carnival ride fboy; it will be vital when the viaduct comes down. Besides the money received from a grant to fund the thing couldn’t be used to add cops so watch the correlations. No parking, really that’s your gripe? Walk to the thing, take the free shuttle, ride your bike and when you get there, enjoy the ride!!!!

bebecat May 25, 2010 (6:41 am)

I just wish they would move it to Jack Block Park ASAP. It is very disruptive and congestive where it is now. That area use to be an absolute delight to visit. The exhaust fumes are the worst. It has hit the fishing pier more than once. I agree they need to charge a fee that makes it a solvent operation.

Al May 25, 2010 (8:32 am)

The “real” costs of transportation are sky high – however there is a public benefit to mass/alternate transportation (more people in one vehicle, less congestion, less pollution, provides those w/out access to personal vehicles a mode of getting around) which is why the options are there and supported by tax dollars…hey wait minute, so are the roadways…I wish they would charge more for people to use the roadways, they don’t pay for themselves you know and we rack up huge amounts of debt for them too.

Eliza May 25, 2010 (10:04 am)

We complain when there are limited transportation options. We complain when there are transportation options. We complain when something doesn’t fit exactly into our idea of what it should be.

Well, you can’t please everyone. Good job King county on offering multiple public transportation options! Personally, I would rather have the options than not. Ever lived in a city with limited or no public transportation, low low low quality of life.

birdgeek May 25, 2010 (11:56 am)

Love Love LOVE the water taxi!! It takes the bridge completely out of the equation. I can’t believe it’s not mobbed by commuters. The bridge/viaduct is always a crapshoot, between port traffic (both the trucks and hey! the drawbridge opens) and sporting events, I can’t thank (who do I thank) enough for the existence of this option.

Mike May 25, 2010 (12:35 pm)

Please don’t tell anyone about the wonderful spacious new boat and comfortable seating. I want to keep all the space for myself.

Not Really.

King County should promote the hell out of it so it starts to pay for itself, and then give us one to ballard. How about a billboard of the backed up west seattle bridge or buses turned sideways on Admiral on a snowy day.

Hate driving to work.

Love the water taxi.

(another) Al May 25, 2010 (1:18 pm)

There is no transportation that pays for itself entirely, with the possible exception of walking (barefoot, only on private property, trespassing). Public transportation is subsidized by the public. So are our streets, roads, etc. If we had to pay the true cost for our gasoline, including structural and ecological costs, gas would be about $40/gallon. If we based having children on true costs, we would have to cease reproduction entirely. Attacking any public transportation solution because it doesn’t pay for itself is certainly a simple solution to a complex issue; it’s just not a correct one.

Diane May 25, 2010 (1:52 pm)

at the Water Taxi opening day party, we were informed that the Water Taxi is not allowing advertising on the vessel this year (I’m not sure my reliable source wants to be acknowledged, so feel free to jump in)
~
Dow was surprised to hear this, and said he would look into it; any follow-up?
~
I had talked with organizers in Pioneer Square about advertising on the boat re new happenings in Pioneer Square, as they are struggling to revitalize their community; the water taxi now lands at Yesler, right at entrance to center of Pio Sq; I’m sure others would like to buy ads on the taxi, and it would be great income to keep it viable, hopefully year-round

WSB May 25, 2010 (2:09 pm)

Diane – We advertised on the Water Taxi with a big banner (see bottom of our ADVERTISE page) the past two seasons and would have been happy to continue this year, but they had some logistics to work out. The program was handled by a bicoastal outdoor-advertising agency. Certainly every cent helps, but I can tell you it wasn’t likely a massive revenue generator. And certainly if they reimplement it, it will have to take different forms, because most of the opportunities the past two years involved the big banners hung around the big top deck – totally different configuration now, inside and outside. But you can bet that if/when they get it going again, we’ll be among the first in line … TR

old timer May 25, 2010 (4:17 pm)

Regarding paying for the water taxi:
Didn’t we vote “YES” for a special property tax levy earmarked for
the King County Ferry System?
And have they not already taken most of that special levy into the budget at large?

ZS May 25, 2010 (5:14 pm)

The Water Taxi rules! Multi-destinations (Ballard, Magnolia, etc.) would be fantastic. It works in Vancouver BC and could really make our city world class.

westside May 25, 2010 (11:12 pm)

Old timer and others–the King County Council reduced the ferry levy for Vashon and West Seattle to 1/3 of a cent last year. So if you own a $400,000 house you owe about $1.30 or so a year.

The farebox return is about 30%, better than a bus. It does cost more than the Metro system average to operate, but not more than many Metro buses. And the system should become more efficient and sustainable as it builds a market.

King County raised fares this year by 50 cents, but they delivered a faster, cleaner boat with a great crew and a brand new dock and ramp that are much safer.

The Water Taxi is a great thing for West Seattle and will be even more important in the next 10 years. The Spokane Street and Viaduct construction will impact both cars and buses. Getting people across the water is already a good option on Mariner game days. I take the water taxi to the dock and catch a free shuttle right away to 35th and Avalon where I can catch a bus almost anywhere in West Seattle. But in the mornings I always take a bus. People need options and the water taxi has already served a need for many people.

Sarah May 26, 2010 (3:54 pm)

Three cheers for the water taxi. Always on time, courteous friendly staff, comfortable accommodations, out of this world scenery, need I say more. It’s WONDERFUL and makes commuting even enjoyable – wish I could say the same for the buses.