Year-round Water Taxi? Drago progress report @ SW District Council

With even more road construction looming – short term like this, or longer term like this – the West Seattle route of the King County Water Taxi is bound to draw even more commuters starting later this year and early next year. That is, if it does start operating year-round, as is hoped – and as was the motivation for the Seacrest Pier upgrade. The big question for months has been, will there be money, given the county budget crunch? Last night in West Seattle, King County Councilmember Jan Drago told the Southwest District Council that she’s hopeful that, along with King County Executive Dow Constantine, they’ll soon be able to say they’ve secured the money. She pointed out that the big push is to just get enough money to keep it going through winter, because, “Come spring, there will be (Alaskan Way) Viaduct mitigation money.” The Water Taxi is a focus of hers because she chairs the committee overseeing the King County Ferry District.

5 Replies to "Year-round Water Taxi? Drago progress report @ SW District Council"

  • Citizen Sane July 8, 2010 (10:05 pm)

    Am I missing something here? We’ve just closed down the South Park bridge for lack of funds, and we’re talking about running the WS Water Taxi year-round? What would the annual subsidy be on this service? I don’t think fare revenue is covering all the cost. On first blush, it does look like the sexy Water Taxi, which is used predominantly by well-heeled, mostly white, WS/Alki residents is being favored over a drawbridge that serves a dumpy, minority-heavy enclave. Someone tell me I’m wrong. Please?

    • WSB July 8, 2010 (10:30 pm)

      Fare revenue doesn’t cover any transit service’s full cost. As for the bridge, as we reported earlier today, they’re now up to $95 million of the $130 million needed, and about to apply for a federal grant that likely will be sought for most if not all of the remainder – and having other funding commitment was the missing link in the federal application that failed a few months back.

  • a West Seattle bus rider July 9, 2010 (12:15 am)

    The Water Taxi would make a lot of money if the land shuttle required a fare given or transfer to be used. Having it be free is nice. But, the city could make a lot of money from the people who use it just as a local bus service. The 755 is very popular!

  • sa July 9, 2010 (9:31 am)

    having that dependable water taxi service will be all the more important with all the poorly times construction projects going on simultaneously. Viaduct, Spokane, etc. The lane closure on the 19th is a good reason to use the water taxi and combine with transit. In the foreseeable future, this is the way things look. Lots of people also drive to the water taxi from neighborhoods all over west seattle so it isn’t just some yuppy cruise. furthermore, there is a real economic development aspect of this, in that tourists now have a fun and reasonable way of accessing businesses in west seattle. its a win win. These days we need all the options we can get.

  • Kara July 12, 2010 (6:08 pm)

    I was planning on using the Water Taxi for my commute, but then they moved the docking location farther down the waterfront.

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