This is an interesting development in the area of local transportation. We have officially expressed interest in participating in the study of a Lake Washington water-taxi service that could help non-Renton-resident employees come to Boeing, Paccar, and the Landing, or help Renton residents commute to the University of Washington, Bellevue or Kirkland.
The water taxi would most likely dock at Renton’s Southport, the growing development on the Lake between Coulon Park and the Landing. This is an excellent location for Boeing employees, as there is a badge-operated roto-gate directly into the Boeing plant from Southport. It would also serve the Landing and Paccar well, as it is withing walking distance of all these facilities.
Water Taxis (or small passenger-only ferries may be a better name for what is being considered)have recently been used on Elliot Bay, and have been used in other regions pretty successfully for many years. They typically will run a loop course between several stops on a river or lake (Vancouver BC makes good use of these)
Friday, November 9, 2007
Last updated 12:49 a.m. PT
Water Taxi ridership up 32 percent
By CASEY MCNERTHNEY
P-I REPORTER
The Elliott Bay Water Taxi saw ridership increase by 32 percent in 2007, easily eclipsing the previous year’s numbers.
A total of 161,331 riders used the West Seattle-to-downtown service this summer, as compared with 122,650 riders in 2006. The additional ridership revenues generated allowed King County to operate the water taxi during October weekday commute hours.
The ridership announcement came Thursday as the King County Ferry District Board of Directors — a group of nine King County Council members — met to consider the proposed system plan.
“The Water Taxi’s record year shows the public’s enthusiasm for transportation alternatives beyond roads and rails,” recently reelected board member Dow Constantine said in a statement. “The Ferry District will allow us to take the Water Taxi to year-round operation, while expanding waterborne transit to other communities on Lake Washington and Puget Sound.”
Under the proposed plan, the King County Ferry District would assume operation of the Elliott Bay Water Taxi and the Vashon Island-to-downtown passenger-only ferries. The plan could also fund up to five demonstration routes across King County.
“The value of the Elliott Bay Water Taxi was particularly evident during the Interstate 5 construction when it carried more than 2,300 passengers in nine days,” King County Executive Ron Sims said in a September statement
Kenmore, Des Moines and Renton city officials told board members Thursday they’re eager to participate in demonstration routes. Patti Mullen, executive director of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, also praised the concept of year-round water taxi service.
P-I reporter Casey McNerthney can be reached at 206-448-8220 or caseymcnerthney@seattlepi.com.
Oh, I absolutely would use it. That’s be SO preferable to driving into the city and trying to find parking. Not to mention it’s got a high novelty factor.
Ooh, I want something like that! I would love to travel around the area by boat, and it would even be a neat way to commute.
I would definitely use the Water Taxi, I wouldn’t have to spend a bucket of $$$ on gas
I would sure enjoy having a water taxi around here. I would use it for the fun of it and the convenience. It would be a great thing to take visitors on.
It’d be a great way to get to downtown Bellevue and/or Kirkland for weekend trips, especially if my mom moves to downtown Kirkland. For commuting to my job in Bellevue, though, it wouldn’t be convenient, since I don’t work downtown. For Boeing employees coming into Renton, though, it seems like a no-brainer!
The King County Council voted to take on ferry service today and Renton is one of the areas they are planning on doing a trial run in!
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