To anyone planning to replenish an ORCA card or budgeting for regular trips on the Water Taxi next month – take note.

One-way fares will increase for the King County Water Taxi on March 1, 2018.

Adult fares will increase by 50 cents per trip for both West Seattle and Vashon Island.

Riders using ORCA passes and e-purse should plan for the increase when they replenish their accounts for next month.

• For adults paying with ORCA, the one-way fare will be $5 per rider on the West Seattle route and $5.75 per rider on the Vashon Island route.
• Adults paying with cash will pay $5.75 for West Seattle and $6.75 for Vashon Island.
• Seniors and riders with disabilities will pay $2.50 for West Seattle and $3 for Vashon Island, a 25-cent increase over current fares.
• Youth ORCA users and ORCA LIFT riders will now pay $3.75 a ride for West Seattle (25 cents more per ride) and $4.50 (50 cents more per ride) for Vashon Island.
• Children 5 years old and under can still ride the Water Taxi for free.

To view all fare changes scheduled for March 1, visit our website and choose a route.

The fare policy was established when the Water Taxi operated under the King County Ferry District and was then adopted by King County. Fare increases have taken place every two years since 2012. Fare revenue helps King County meet fare box recovery targets and keep pace with rising costs to deliver safe, reliable and efficient Water Taxi service.

The King County Water Taxi continues to grow in popularity, providing riders with a congestion-free commute into downtown Seattle.

In 2017, the Water Taxi carried nearly 600,000 riders combined on the West Seattle and Vashon Island routes. These two routes combined for more than 13,300 annual trip segments with over a 99-percent reliability rating.