News from King County Department of Transportation
Release date:  June 22, 2006

UPDATE: Metro adds afternoon Water Taxi service for West Seattle commuters

Metro Transit is adding an extra trip on a larger boat for the Elliott Bay Water Taxi this afternoon to accommodate West Seattle residents whose commute was disrupted by the closure of the West Seattle Bridge this morning.

The bridge was closed for more than seven hours this morning due to a fatality traffic accident and subsequent police investigation. Because the bridge was closed well through the morning commute, traffic back-ups were extreme and many residents left their cars at home and commuted by bus or water taxi.

Metro estimates its West Seattle buses carried an additional 500 passengers this morning. The Water Taxi passengers numbered almost 700 – double the amount of passengers for a typical June morning.

An extra trip will be added for this today’s return sailings back to Seacrest Dock in West Seattle. The fare is $3. The Water Taxi will leave Pier 55 in Seattle at the following times this afternoon:

• 2:30 p.m.
• 3:20 p.m.
• 4:00 p.m.
• 4:15 p.m. (extra trip with larger boat)
• 4:40 p.m.
• 5:20 p.m.
• 6:10 p.m.
• 6:50 p.m. (last trip)

Bus passengers can visit Metro’s online trip planner to explore their commute options back to West Seattle this afternoon.