Riders heading to and from Vashon Island will have new King County Water Taxi passenger ferry sailings available on weekdays starting July 1. There also will be more supporting bus service.

The Vashon route of the Water Taxi will begin operating 10 round trips each weekday, which will include four new midday trips to connect riders between the north end ferry terminal and Pier 50 in downtown Seattle.

Anticipated sailing times are listed below. The final sailing times will be shared with the public approximately a month before midday service on weekdays begins on July 1.

Depart Vashon	Depart Seattle Pier 50
6:10 a.m.	5:30 a.m.
7:10 a.m.	6:38 a.m.
8:15 a.m.	7:40 a.m.
*9:25 a.m.	*8:50 a.m.
*12:00 p.m.	*11:25 a.m.
*1:30 p.m.	*12:45 p.m.
*3:45 p.m.	*3:00 p.m.
4:58 p.m.	4:30 p.m.
5:58 p.m.	5:30 p.m.
6:58 p.m.	6:30 p.m.
*Anticipated new trips starting July 1, 2024

To improve service for riders, King County Metro also adjusted bus schedules and added weekday bus trips for residents starting March 30. Routes 118 and 119 together previously operated 45 trips each weekday, a number that grew to 51 starting with the March 30 service change. The added and adjusted bus trip times will connect riders to current Washington State Ferries’ sailings and are timed to align with the future Water Taxi sailings.

“Adding more Water Taxi trips between Vashon and Seattle is the boost to service that riders have been asking for,” said County Executive Dow Constantine. “We’re happy to team up with our state partners to improve and expand King County’s public transportation network.”

“Ferries provide the sole connection to school, work, goods, and critical services like healthcare for islanders, and for families and workers on the mainland who travel to Vashon for school and work on daily basis,” County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda said. “I’m thrilled that it will now be easier to get to, from, and around Vashon thanks to better midday bus service, and more midday water taxi service just around the corner. The last two years of ferry reductions have had a significant impact on Vashon’s public health and local economy, with disproportionate impacts on vulnerable community members, including children, elders, those living with chronic illness, small businesses, and households with low incomes. I’m so grateful to the leadership of our partners in the state legislature led by Representative Emily Alvarado, King County Metro, and the advocacy of Vashon islanders that made these improvements possible.”

“The combination of more Water Taxi trips and better bus service will provide frequent and smooth connections for riders on Vashon Island, and connecting to and from downtown Seattle,” King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison said.

“Vashon riders told us they wanted more midday service for work, appointments and social trips,” said Terry Federer, Marine Division Director at King County Metro. “Through this partnership with the state, we are glad to deliver.”

State Rep. Emily Alvarado sponsored the $3.17 million provision for Metro to provide the additional passenger-only ferry service. Thanks to her work, legislators included it in their final transportation budget. Executive Dow Constantine and Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda — whose district represents Vashon Island — also advocated in support of this funding. More water taxi crewmembers will be hired to supplement existing crews and to expand the service that Vashon residents praise and rely on.

Vashon Water taxi and connecting bus service make it easy for riders to travel

Vashon Water Taxi carried 85,040 passengers in 2023 and operated 249 days. Average daily ridership on the Vashon Island route was 341 passenger each weekday. Ridership increased significantly during the first quarter of 2024.

Together, Routes 118 and 119 currently operate 45 trips each weekday, a number grew to 51 each weekday with the March 30 spring service change.

• Route 118 will operate 38 weekday trips: 20 southbound weekday trips and 18 northbound weekday trips. (Current schedule is 30 trips: 14 southbound and 16 northbound)
• Route 119 will operate 13 weekday trips: 6 southbound weekday trips and 7 northbound weekday trips. (Current schedule is 15 trips: 8 southbound and 7 northbound).