Best summer in six years for West Seattle Water Taxi, says Metro

(MV Doc Maynard – WSB file photo)

As we’ve been mentioning in our morning traffic/transit/etc. roundups, this Friday is the last night of the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s summer/early fall schedule. Metro published a reminder this afternoon, including an update on ridership this season:

… The West Seattle run, which takes passengers on a 15-minute ride across Elliott Bay, saw summer (June-August) ridership of more than 178,000 passengers (59,000 per month). That meant 2025 was the busiest summer since 2019, when the water taxi carried 166,000 riders (55,000 per month) over the same period.

This summer, the water taxi saw the return of Seattle Mariners weeknight post-game service, allowing fans to go from T-Mobile to Pier 50 after Mariners victories. Fans of the “Beautiful Game” were also able to take the water taxi after matches during the 2025 FIFA Men’s Club World Cup. Add to that a summer full of concerts—Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, and Miranda Lambert, K-Pop stars Stray Kids, Post Malone, and the Lumineers — and there were a number of people who took advantage of leaving their cars at home and riding the Water Taxi.

When the West Seattle Water Taxi starts its fall/winter schedule on Saturday (see it here), that’s also the day that the Vashon Water Taxi starts its six-day-a-week schedule, adding Saturdays.

IDC9 October 7, 2025 (4:37 pm)

All those extra sports sailings seem to have paid off for the water taxi this year. Its such a great service!

Keith October 7, 2025 (6:31 pm)

I’m really glad they’ve been adding service for big concerts. It’s so much easier to get there and back, and super fun to be with all the fans.

West Seattle Lite October 7, 2025 (6:45 pm)

I also assume that more people are having to go back into the office as opposed to working from home.

IDC9 October 8, 2025 (11:10 am)

Reply

That has to be a contributing factor. The roads are certainly getting busier as more and more people return to their physical offices.

Numbers October 7, 2025 (9:39 pm)

This is quoted, which means WSB got it from Metro and published verbatim, but I am confused by this quote, “ The West Seattle run, which takes passengers on a 15-minute ride across Elliott Bay, saw summer (June-August) ridership of more than 178,000 passengers (59,000 per month). That meant 2025 was the busiest summer since 2019, when the water taxi carried 166,000 riders (55,000 per month) over the same period.” Doesn’t this mean there were more riders this year than in 2019, not “since 2019”? So busiest summer since when?

WSB October 7, 2025 (10:24 pm)

Reply

Yes, their wording was a little odd, but I interpreted it as ridership had been below 2019 levels until this year.

Platypus October 8, 2025 (8:40 am)

We need way more bike parking at the West Seattle side. Leaving a car works fine but it would be better to have a safe bike parking.

IDC9 October 8, 2025 (11:09 am)

Reply

If we want to encourage more people to bicycle as part of their commute, then adding more safe parking areas for bikes is a must.