Update: West Seattle Water Taxi runs likely canceled tomorrow too
4:10 PM: King County Water Taxi just e-mailed word that West Seattle runs are canceled from 4:15 pm through 7 pm (that means, the rest of the day/night) because of a “mechanical issue.” Checking for more details.
4:42 PM UPDATE: As was the case last time, this is because of a problem with the boat that serves Vashon. The county just sent full details – news release after the jump. First, another update:
7:34 PM UPDATE: The latest update says the West Seattle Water Taxi service is canceled “till further notice.” To clarify whether any change was expected tonight, or whether this meant it’s likely there’ll be no service tomorrow, we checked with Rochelle Ogershok at KC Department of Transportation; at this point, she confirmed, West Seattle Water Taxi service is NOT likely tomorrow – Rachel Marie will keep filling in for Melissa Ann. Now, the enws release from three hours ago:Read More
West Seattle Monday: Water Taxi schedule change, and more
(WSB photo from last month)
Topping today’s lookahead: The West Seattle Water Taxi‘s schedule changes starting this morning, as announced last week. (And that means its shuttle buses change too.) Here’s the new schedule; you’ll note the first run from Seacrest to downtown is five minutes earlier, and the last run from downtown to Seacrest is five minutes later.
Also on the “getting around” front – tonight is another scheduled closure for the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct, 10 pm-5 am, the section of the West Seattle Bridge that’s between I-5 and Highway 99. More highlights:
50-SOMETHING SINGLES: 4-8 pm event at the Senior Center of West Seattle – free to drop in (live music at 5 pm with Band Jam), or have dinner for $8 (strawberry waffles and sausage at 5:30 pm). More singles info – call Lee 206-938-5017 or Mary 206-935-2162.
LAST MONDAY NIGHT SKYLARK SCRABBLE: Fundraising Scrabble at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 7 pm registration, 7:15 pm game (details here) – $5 to play, benefiting charity. After tonight, it moves to 3:30 pm Saturdays (karaoke is moving in on Mondays).
PARENTS’ ROUNDTABLE: 6-7 PM at Fauntleroy Children’s Center, a roundtable discussion for parents to share their experiences, questions, comments regarding making the decision for kindergarten. Child care is available with advance notice, 206-932-9590.
WEST SEATTLE SEE DOGS: Find out about raising a guide dog puppy! 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor) lobby. (Check out WSSD online via Facebook.)
FAMILY STORY TIME: High Point Library, 7 pm – songs, rhymes, games with children’s librarian Amy.
More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!
Repaired West Seattle Water Taxi vessel starts sea trials
(9/26/2010 WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
More than three months after it crashed into the downtown seawall at Washington Street, the King County Water Taxi vessel Rachel Marie is close to returning to service. This morning, King County Department of Transportation spokesperson Rochelle Ogershok confirms that the Rachel Marie begins its post-repairs sea trials today. (Thanks to Eileen for the tip.) The Argosy Cruises boat that used to handle the West Seattle-to-downtown run, the Sightseer, has filled in for most of the runs since the crash, which sent seven people to the hospital last September 26. Ogershok says they should know in a few days when the Rachel Marie will be officially back in service; meantime, a U.S. Coast Guard District 13 spokesperson says the investigation is still “ongoing.”
ADDED 1:26 PM: USCG Lt. Jon Lane provided a little more information about the investigation’s status: He says there will be a formal announcement for the media later this week, saying that Coast Guard investigators have “determined the causal factors” but won’t be able to go public with them “until the investigative report is finalized at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound and then reviewed and approved by Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C.” Lt. Lane says that’s likely to take at least two more months.
West Seattle Water Taxi schedule announced for next 3 months
Another announcement today from the King County Department of Transportation (following the Metro and Water Taxi changes published here earlier):
The King County Ferry District is advising passengers that the 2011 winter sailing season has been set for the West Seattle Water Taxi.
From Jan 1 – March 31, service will continue to be offered five days a week consistent with the current sailing schedule. Currently, the water taxi operates five morning trips and five afternoon trips Monday through Friday to serve commuters headed into downtown Seattle. This schedule may be adjusted when the Rachel Marie returns to service in a few weeks.
“This winter sailing schedule will continue to be a great option for passengers looking to avoid bumper-to-bumper traffic during their daily commute,” said King County Ferry District Chair Larry Gossett. “And as road work continues along the waterfront, the water taxi will become an even more valuable commute alternative for residents who want to avoid construction tie-ups.”
Meanwhile, repair work continues on the Rachel Marie, which was damaged in last September. The vessel is expected to be back in operation sometime in January.
For more details on the West Seattle Water Taxi winter sailing season, visit: www.kingcounty.gov/watertaxi.
Veterans Day transit changes tomorrow: A few notes
Reminder that the King County Water Taxi is NOT running on Veterans Day tomorrow – no West Seattle runs, no Vashon Island runs, no shuttle buses. Metro is on what they’re calling a “reduced weekday schedule,” and we’ve just clarified a bit of confusion that WSB’er JayDee noted while checking the Metro timetables: Not all routes have canceled trips, and Metro is updating the online list to make sure it’s accurate. Most notably, the timetables for Route 37 tomorrow ARE correct, Metro’s Linda Thielke tells WSB – there are NO canceled trips on the 37, even though the “Holiday Service” list, which she says is being fixed, said there would be. Meantime, another transit note for tomorrow: Sound Transit says its buses/trains are on a regular weekday schedule.
West Seattle Water Taxi riders’ opinion wanted – for $
King County asked if we would share this announcement to help them recruit for these discussions about the West Seattle Water Taxi (WSB Traffic page sponsor):
This coming week the King County Department of Transportation’s Marine Division will conduct three focus group discussions with West Seattle residents. The purpose is to learn more about how the King County Water Taxi can better serve the West Seattle community.
Two of the three groups will include residents who regularly commute via the Water Taxi. These will be held at 8 PM on Monday the 15th, and at 8 PM on Wednesday the 17th. The third group, to be comprised of occasional Water Taxi riders, will be held at 8 PM on Thursday the 18th.
The discussions will take place in downtown Seattle and participants will be served snacks and receive a $75 gratuity.
If interested and one of these times works for you, please contact Chris Wheeler at christopher.wheeler@kingcounty.gov to sign up and receive further details.
Commute notes: Travel-time signs; Water Taxi tickets
Starting today, King County Water Taxi riders can use credit/debit cards to pay their fare – by buying tickets from the machines now installed at Seacrest, Pier 50 downtown, and Vashon. The one in West Seattle, shown in our photo, is alongside the southeast side of the main building at the pier, close to where shuttle riders get on/off buses. The machines sell one-way tickets; more info here. Meantime, if you drive along Fauntleroy or 35th SW to get to the West Seattle Bridge, as of about 6 am this morning, the electronic signs along those routes are supposed to start showing travel times, as announced by the city on Friday. If you just want to check online before you leave home, this map is supposed to show times for even more areas.
West Seattle Water Taxi: Councilmember Jan Drago’s update
(September 26 photo by Christopher Boffoli)
A week and a half after the downtown crash that damaged the Rachel Marie badly enough that it’ll be off the West Seattle run of the King County Water Taxi for weeks, if not months, we’ve got an update from King County Councilmember Jan Drago. In an “op-ed” essay, she reveals she’s told the county to “contract with Argosy Cruises to deliver, without interruption, West Seattle Water Taxi service” – since the crash, Argosy’s Sightseer, which used to run the route till the county took it over, has handled weekday service. Read on for Drago’s full essay:Read More
Water Taxi crash: Update on boat damage, West Seattle service
(Photo courtesy Andrew Harms, who was on board when the Rachel Marie crashed on Sunday)
Just in from King County, an update on the aftermath of yesterday’s crash, with the West Seattle-to-downtown Water Taxi, Rachel Marie, hitting the seawall and historic landing south of its dock at Pier 50, sending 7 people to the hospital (WSB coverage here). The county says damage to the RM appears “significant” and that Argosy’s Sightseer will continue to make the run, between Seacrest and Pier 55 instead of 50, for at least the rest of this week. (We checked out its first run this morning; later, Ross sent this photo of a bigger crowd boarding:)
Read on for the full text of the news release just sent by King County Department of Transportation:Read More
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ORIGINAL 12:41 PM REPORT: Thanks to JayDee for the tip, confirmed by King County Department of Transportation: The
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