As noted in the morning traffic/weather info roundup, we asked Metro whether they were considering adding West Seattle Water Taxi runs for the Mariners’ playoff games. Spokesperson Al Sanders tells us yes:

The West Seattle Water Taxi will be running post-game service on Wednesday [tonight], Thursday and (if needed) on Friday. Sailing times from Pier 50 will be at 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

If the Mariners do make it to the World Series, the Marine Division will consider additional service on a game-by-game basis.

4:55 PM: Metro has sent an alert that the 5:25 pm and 6:05 pm West Seattle Water Taxi runs from downtown are canceled, as are the 5:45 and 6:25 pm runs from Seacrest to downtown. “Mechanical problems” are blamed; there are also cancellations for the Vashon Water Taxi and Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry, so we are following up to see whether the “mechanical problems” are with the terminal rather than vessel(s).

6:01 PM: No word on what the problem was, but Metro says the Water Taxi and other vessels are back in service, so the canceled trips are reinstated.

(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.

West Seattle has had weekend King County Water Taxi service for years – and now Vashon Island is getting it too. When the fall/winter service schedule starts on October 11, the Vashon Island to Downtown Seattle run will get eight round trips on Saturdays. The schedule also will include an added Friday night sailing, from downtown to Vashon at 7:30 pm Fridays. As noted in the full announcement, this is a one-year pilot program, with the $1 million cost allocated by the state Legislature.

Reminder: The Mariners games tonight and tomorrow are the last ones for which Metro will run extra later-in-the-evening West Seattle Water Taxi service, with the last boat leaving Pier 50 downtown at 9:30 pm. After tomorrow (Tuesday, August 26), the WSWT goes back to the regular summer schedule of extended evening service only on Fridays and Saturdays.

That’s a King County TV clip about “Captain Dan,” whose last day with the King County Water Taxi is tomorrow. Capt. Dan (Krehbiel) had a big moment in the spotlight in November 2023, when he – while at the helm of M/V Doc Maynard – maneuvered the Water Taxi to keep a runaway barge from crashing into the downtown waterfront (WSB coverage here). Most recently he’s been on the Vashon Island run with M/V Sally Fox. But his true claim to fame is as the Water Taxi system’s first captain, 16 years ago; it’s grown in a big way since then, but now he’s sailing off into retirement. Read his full story on the Metro Matters website.

Just announced by Metro:

West Seattle Water Taxi will extend weeknight service for Mariners games this summer, beginning tomorrow June 3rd! See our website to check the sailing schedule & plan your trip to/from T-Mobile Park:

https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro/travel-options/water-taxi/west-seattle#toc-sailing-schedule

Via email from Dan just a few minutes ago:

Water Taxi is a small boat this morning and they are turning away people for over capacity including people headed to the Sounders noon match. Might want to take a bus.

According to Water Taxi Watch, both regular Water Taxi boats, Doc Maynard and Sally Fox, are tied up downtown at the WT maintenance facility.

(WSB photo, April 2024)

That’s some of what divers brought up during their annual underwater cleanup around Seacrest last year. It’s happening again this Sunday morning, and that means a delayed start to West Seattle Water Taxi service that day. Thanks to Karen for the tip – she reported a sign about the schedule change, so we checked with Al Sanders at Metro. He tells WSB:

The Seacrest Dock will get its annual underwater cleaning Sunday morning April 20. Service will be suspended during the cleanup. Volunteer divers and staff from Seattle Dive Tours will go under the dock and pull away debris that is a hazard to both the water taxi and the people diving around and near the dock. Service to West Seattle will be suspended Sunday morning, but sailings will resume Sunday afternoon from Pier 50 starting at 1:30 p.m.

Sanders says Metro plans to send out an alert about this tomorrow (Friday).

(WSB file photo)

Metro says the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s spring/summer schedule will start this Saturday, April 12. As in recent years, the major change will be the addition of later-in-the-evening runs on Fridays and Saturdays, until 11 pm; you can see the full schedules for those days/nights by going here. So what about big events that aren’t happening on those two nights? We asked Water Taxi spokesperson Al Sanders, who replied, “Sailings for special events (such as concerts) will continue to be decided on a case by case basis.” The spring/summer schedule will be in effect through Friday night, October 10.

(King County Metro photo)

A reminder in case you missed the original announcement last Friday – The West Seattle Water Taxi will NOT be in service for the next two days (Monday-Tuesday, March 24-25). Metro says the two-day break is needed for work at the dock at Seacrest, “to repair damage caused by recent weather. The repairs include refastening pile guides to the docking float and replacement of pile guide bushings.”

(WSB file photo)

Metro announced today that West Seattle Water Taxi service will be canceled Monday and Tuesday so the Seacrest pier can be repaired:

King County Water Taxi service to West Seattle will be temporarily suspended on Monday, March 24 and Tuesday, March 25 while maintenance crews make repairs to the Seacrest Dock.

Water Taxi sailings to Vashon will continue during this time.

The work to the floats at the dock is to repair damage caused by recent weather. The repairs include refastening pile guides to the docking float and replacement of pile guide bushings.

The work is being done prior to the start of the summer sailing season that begins in mid-April.

For alternate transportation suggestions, see this post on the Water Taxi website.

(Reader photo)

In case you’re in the Seacrest (Water Taxi/Marination ma kai) vicinity and wondering about the emergency response, with SFD there now: According to dispatch and to the witness who sent the photo – they were on the Water Taxi, which had just left – a man jumped into the water in a suspected attempt at self-harm. The witness says the Water Taxi quickly returned to the dock, as its crew, along with divers and others, rushed to help; the witness told us via text, “I was very impressed by how quickly (the) crew reacted, very professional and efficient. They had life rings, one of them wa wearing a dry suit, and after very quickly tying the boat up, were running off with a first-aid kit. (The) boat captain showed some pretty amazing skills, racing to the dock uncomfortably fast and stopped it on a dime in the perfect position.” The man was pulled out of the water and is now getting help and will be taken to a hospital.

Again this year, the King County Water Taxi‘s West Seattle service will continue middays year-round as well as am and pm commutes, Metro confirms today; the shuttle buses will continue too. And Metro says the new Vashon service’s midday runs also will continue throughout fall and winter. The only notable changes taking effect with the “fall schedule” on October 11 will be the suspension of Friday/Saturday later-evening runs on the West Seattle route until spring. Metro’s full announcement about all this is here.

FYI for Elliott Bay-watchers, and anybody visiting Alki, on Saturday – King County Water Taxi spokesperson Al Sanders tells us that the WT and the U.S. Coast Guard “will be holding their annual joint training exercise from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. across Elliott Bay. One of our vessels is going to be ‘boarded’ by the Coast Guard throughout the day.” So if you see unusual activity on Saturday (September 21) involving one of the Water Taxi vessels, now you know.

ADDED SATURDAY: The drill activity ranged outside the bay, too – Chris Frankovich sent this photo shortly after 3 pm:

After a day and a half of no or reduced service to West Seattle, and a half-day of reduced service to Vashon Island, the King County Water Taxi is back on its regular schedule this afternoon. Metro spokesperson Al Sanders says the Coast Guard cleared M/V Sally Fox to return to service, so it sailed from downtown to West Seattle at 1:30 pm, and M/V Doc Maynard will leave downtown for Vashon Island at 3 pm, with both routes sailing their regular schedules this pm. The Water Taxi’s regular backup boat, M/V Spirit of Kingston, has been unavailable because it’s at a shipyard for its periodic “out-of-water inspection.”

12:45 PM: In our morning traffic/transit roundup, we mentioned that Metro was not running King County Water Taxi service between downtown and West Seattle this morning because of “mechanical” trouble. They’ve just sent an update, saying the route is still suspended, no ETA for resumption. We’re seeking more information on which boat is having trouble and why there’s no backup, since usually there are three boats available for the WT’s two routes.

3:45 PM: Here’s the explanation we received from Metro’s Al Sanders:

Service to West Seattle is tentatively suspended for the rest of the day.

There are some mechanical issues with the Sally Fox. On Sunday, the West Seattle crew noticed some anomalies with the docking controls. The vessel was taken out of service as a precautionary measure.

The Spirit of Kingston, the water taxi’s back-up vessel, is in the shipyard for its regular USCG out of water inspection.

With only one vessel — the Doc Maynard—available, it is being used for service to Vashon due to the critical transportation needs of that community.

And if you’re not familiar with transportation alternatives, here are their suggestions:

Buses:
• Metro’s RapidRide C Line and RapidRide H Line, routes 21, 56, 57 & 125 connect West Seattle to downtown Seattle – near the Pier 50 passenger-only facility located at Alaskan Way and Columbia Street.
• Route 128 connects the Admiral District, Morgan Junction, High Point, Delridge, South Seattle College and White Center areas with the West Seattle
• Water Taxi shuttle routes 773 & 775 will continue to operate their regular routes and schedules during this time, connecting West Seattle riders to the West Seattle Junction and Alki Beach via Harbor Avenue, Alki Avenue and North Admiral.

Link light rail:
• Metro Route 50 connects West Seattle – including North Delridge, the Alaska Junction, the Admiral District and Alki Beach to Sound Transit Link 1 Line at SODO.

6:37 PM: Now Metro has announced a “hybrid schedule” for Tuesday, handling both West Seattle and Vashon Island routes with one boat. You can see the schedule here.

(WSB photo, primary Vashon Water Taxi vessel M/V Sally Fox after its 2015 delivery)
The King County Water Taxi‘s Vashon-to-Seattle route has long run only during weekday morning and afternoon/evening commute times. With state ferries’ reduced service, Vashon has long requested expanded Water Taxi service – and Monday, it finally happens. With $3 million added funding from the state, the Water Taxi is adding four weekday Vashon-Seattle round trips – leaving Vashon at 9:25 am, noon, 1:30 pm, and 3:45 pm. Previously, the Vashon-Seattle route had six daily round trips, so now it has 10; still no weekend service. You can see the new schedule here.

1:44 PM: Metro has finalized the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s plan for this spring/summer:

-Friday/Saturday late-night service resumes April 19 and continues through October 11 (last run from downtown will be 10:45 pm)
-No service the weekend of April 13-14, to get ready for the season
-‘No late-night sailings Sundays through Thursdays, including after-evening events at Lumen Field or T-Mobile Park’

Also coming up this summer, midday Water Taxi service for Vashon – which previously only had service during am and pm commutes – will be added starting July 1st, with funding from the state. That schedule won’t be finalized until June, but you can see the West Seattle summer schedule by going here.

8:41 PM: Thanks to Kanit for pointing out that shortly after we published this, Metro announced it IS adding special service for the opening Mariners’ homestand this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

(Friday photo, sent by Carolyn)

Last Friday, one of the two main King County Water Taxi vessels went out of service after a small engine fire, as reported here. We asked Metro today about the status of that vessel, M/V Sally Fox. Spokesperson Al Sanders told WSB this afternoon, “The engine fire on the Sally Fox was caused by a loose oil line to a turbocharger. The fire was small and the damage was superficial. Repairs have been made to the Sally Fox and the Marine Division is awaiting USCG approval to operate.” That was potentially expected by day’s end today, although the Water Taxi Watch tracker showed Sally Fox still at the downtown barge dock around day’s end.

P.S. We also asked about the problem early this morning that delayed the start of West Seattle service until 6:30 am. That involved M/V Spirit of Kingston, Sanders said, which was briefly “unable to transfer helm control to exterior station,” a problem that Water Taxi engineering staff handled.