GIF of water taxi photo overlaid with image of ridership 2013, 2014 and 2015, and 515,000 record broken in October 2016.

New record: Ridership soaring on the water taxi!

Middle of last week it happened. Most people were quietly commuting on the water taxi into downtown Seattle when history was made! Thanks to riders, the 2015 record of 515,207 boardings was broken last Wednesday. With more than two months of service left in 2016, there’s a chance ridership might top 600,000. Since starting service as…

View of raindrops on window

Get ready: Fall storm expected this weekend (Oct. 15-16)

The weather forecast doesn’t look pretty. Heavy wind and rain is coming our way the weekend of Oct. 15, and now is the time to sign up for King County’s travel alerts, whether you ride Metro, the Water Taxi, or drive on King County roads, or want to receive regional emergency updates. Water Taxi captains…

The newest Captain in the Water Taxi family!

Officer on deck! West Seattle Water Taxi riders already recognize deckhand Nick Williams, and know him for his great sense of humor and unflappable and easygoing attitude. Get ready to salute, though. Nick recently received his captain’s license from the United States Coast Guard, and last week started driving the West Seattle route as a…

Marine Division Director Paul Brodeur gestures as he directs two people on the Seattle Pier 50 water taxi dock, with the water taxi in the background.

Water taxi funding part of upcoming county budget

Water taxi riders know there is strong ridership and continued demand for service on both the Vashon and West Seattle routes. Paul Brodeur, director of King County’s Marine Division which operates the service, spoke with Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Editor Anneli Fogt about the upcoming funding decision needed by the County Council. The County Executive will…

Riders walking onto the water taxi from the dock.

Water Taxi ridership continues to climb

The evening water taxi sailings to Vashon continue to set ridership records. On July 26, we carried 241 passengers on the 5:30 p.m. sailing from Pier 50. This surpasses the previous record sailing – 237 – on a commute day set just a few weeks ago. West Seattle also has seen a rise in commuter…