Seattle, WA
FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Water Taxi to keep all-day, every-day service again this fall/winter
(WSB file photograph)
1:43 PM: One of many questions remaining unanswered after the West Seattle Bridge reopening was whether or not the West Seattle Water Taxi would return to restricted service this fall/winter. In pre-pandemic instances, the usual fall/winter plan was to cut back service to am/pm commute weekday service solely, however final 12 months the 7-day-a-week, all-day service was maintained by means of the chillier seasons. We requested not too long ago what the plan was for this 12 months and the reply was that it was nonetheless being finalized. Now, the announcement is simply in:
On Monday, Oct. 17, the West Seattle Water Taxi will proceed offering noon and weekend sailings between downtown Seattle’s Pier 50 and Seacrest Dock in West Seattle.
The seven-day-a-week service will run from roughly 6 a.m. weekdays (8:30 a.m. weekends) to 7 p.m. Weekday sailings leaving the dock each 35 minutes throughout peak commute hours and each hour through the noon, and on weekends. There can be no Friday or Saturday sailings after 7 p.m. …
Throughout commute hours, riders can take the free Metro shuttles to and from the Water Taxi touchdown at Seacrest Park. Route 773 serves the West Seattle Junction. Route 775 serves the Admiral District and Alki. …
Through the restore of the West Seattle Excessive Bridge, the Water Taxi supplied a selection for these not desirous to drive to and from West Seattle. There was sufficient ridership through the winter season that Metro has chosen to keep up service for riders who need to proceed utilizing the Water Taxi as an alternative of returning to their automobiles with the reopening of the Excessive Bridge. This pilot program for this fall and winter, which may even present extra constant scheduling for Water Taxi crews, can be used to guage potential ongoing year-round service.
In preparation for the beginning of the winter crusing schedule, Water Taxi workers can be conducting vessel upkeep on Oct. 15-16, so West Seattle service can be canceled for that weekend.
Final 12 months, the additional service was maintained with additional funding from the town; we’re checking on whether or not that’s how they’re overlaying the fee this 12 months, because the announcement didn’t say.
3:16 PM: Metro spokesperson Al Sanders says this time it’s all Metro (county) funding.