Free West Seattle Water Taxi rides during April 10th celebration

One week from tomorrow, the West Seattle Water Taxi starts its spring/summer 7-days-a-week schedule. Two days later, you’ll get to ride the new M/V Doc Maynard – twice the capacity of its predecessor – for free during Community Appreciation Day on Sunday, April 10th, hosted by the King County Marine Division at Seacrest Pier. Full announcement after the jump:

Now that the clouds are parting and it’s starting to feel like spring, King County Executive Dow Constantine is inviting you to get out on the water and experience West Seattle’s new water taxi.

Sunday, April 10 is Community Appreciation Day, hosted by the King County Marine Division. So bring your friends and family out to Seacrest Dock and get an up-close look at the M/V Doc Maynard and take a ride across the bay to Pier 50. All trips will be free as the water taxi kicks off its summer sailing schedule.

“I invite my West Seattle neighbors to take a ride on our new state-of-the-art water taxi as we kick off the summer sailing schedule,” said Executive Constantine. “The M/V Doc Maynard is the latest example of how we’re offering clean, fast, reliable alternatives to gridlock. Grab your sunscreen and join us on April 10th”.

The M/V Sally Fox, the sister ship of the Doc Maynard operating the Vashon route, was recently named one of the top 10 passenger vessels in the world for 2015 by a leading maritime trade magazine. The vessel was recognized for her hull design which increases passenger comfort, deck layout for efficient boardings, and green technology features.

In addition to free rides and refreshments, you’ll be able to tour the new vessel during its trips and meet the crew. King County Council Chair Joe McDermott and Paul Brodeur will also be on hand to greet guests and answer questions at 10:30 a.m.

The Doc Maynard is much larger than the catamaran it replaced. The vessel carries 278 passengers, 131 more than the M/V Spirit of Kingston, which now serves as a reserve vessel. The added capacity offers more room during the busiest weekday commutes and other peak travel periods.

The Doc Maynard is also one of the greenest vessels on the water. The boat is powered by a 10 percent blend of homegrown biodiesel, thereby reducing harmful exhaust emissions. By using biodiesel, the boat is doing its part to reduce consumption of petroleum diesel and particulate matter.

King County’s West Seattle service served more than 300,000 passengers last year. Ridership for both the West Seattle and Vashon service topped a half-million boardings in 2015.

For more information, visit the King County Water Taxi website.

SeattleGrrl March 31, 2016 (12:50 pm)

This is great and all, but we STILL don’t have a bus stop for the water taxi. My wife rode the water taxi home yesterday and it was packed. Then they get to West Seattle stop and there is a shuttle with room for only 17 people on it. And parking for only 40 cards. So what happens? People have to wait for one, two, three shuttles to go somewhere maybe. And just to get to the water taxi you have to drive or somehow get on the shuttles’ limited route. So basically, it is being incredibly underutilized because there is a severe lack of commute options to even get TO the water taxi. I can’t believe the Metro hasn’t expanded the 50 or 128 to run to the water taxi at least!

Ricky Courtney March 31, 2016 (1:48 pm)

Actually the shuttle has 19 seats… and although I’ve yet to see it happen, I’m willing to guess at least 6 people can stand on the shuttle.

Since moving to West Seattle a year ago, I’ve taken the Water Taxi shuttle several times per week from the Junction to Seacrest… I’ve never seen it standing room only. Heck, most days everyone gets two seats to themselves.

In fact the only times I’ve seen the shuttle standing room only a handful of times…

1) On a sunny saturdays last year (before I moved to West Seattle) it was full of tourists heading to Alki.

2) The day the Seafair pirates landed on Alki.

Maybe on those days Metro should consider using a full size bus… but otherwise… the shuttles seem to be working fine.
Trickycoolj March 31, 2016 (5:32 pm)

I kept wanting to take it this week to jury duty but its a 2 bus ride from High Point to the dock or drive and I don’t want to leave my car down there all day. It’s gorgeous outside this week I want to go on a boat ride!

marty March 31, 2016 (1:41 pm)

Just another Seattle transportation success story! LOL!!

UPNORTH April 1, 2016 (3:34 pm)

It is so cool the Doc is running on b10 biodiesel from local used cooking oils!

i hear that its made from oil collected from local restaurants, so cool. That means 10% of the fuel they are using is nontoxic, biodegradable, and clean burning, local fuel. As opposed to fossilized (50% imported) dirty fuels or biofuels made from gmo soybeans or rainforest palm oils. Kudos King County!! Proud to be a local!

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