All Aboard! King County adds Saturday sailings for Vashon Water Taxi
Cross posted from Captain’s Blog
The turning of the fall leaves welcomes a new tradition for the residents of Vashon: Saturday water taxi service. The water taxi will operate eight extra round-trips between Pier 50 in downtown Seattle and the Vashon Ferry Terminal beginning Oct. 11 .
“Vashon Island was the first water taxi route for King County, and residents have been asking for expanded service. Their efforts with the County and the State Legislature have made this great result possible,” said King County Executive Shannon Braddock. “What was once a commuter service has now grown into both a valuable and scenic part of the regional transit system. Saturday trips between Vashon and Seattle are just around the corner!”
Treat yourself!
Enjoy the 22-minute sail time while cruising the Salish Sea, taking in the panoramic views of the Seattle city skyline and the Olympics.
The fall and winter schedule for Vashon will now include new Saturday service, as well as an additional sailing on Friday night leaving Pier 50 at 7:30 p.m.:
Vashon Water Taxi (Monday-Friday)
| Seattle (Pier 50) to Vashon | Vashon Ferry Terminal to Seattle |
|---|---|
| 5:30 a.m. | 6:10 a.m. |
| 6:38 a.m. | 7:10 a.m. |
| 7:40 a.m. | 8:15 a.m. |
| 8:50 a.m. | 9:25 a.m. |
| 11:25 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. |
| 12:45 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. |
| 3:00 p.m. | 3:45 p.m. |
| 4:30 p.m. | 4:58 p.m. |
| 5:30 p.m. | 5:58 p.m. |
| 6:30 p.m. | 6:58 p.m. |
| 7:30 p.m. (Fridays only) | 7:58 p.m. (Fridays only) |
Vashon Water Taxi (Saturday)
| Seattle (Pier 50) to Vashon Ferry Terminal | Vashon Ferry Terminal to Pier 50 |
|---|---|
| 9:55 a.m. | 10:35 a.m. |
| 11:15 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. |
| 12:45 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. |
| 2:45 p.m. | 3:20 p.m. |
| 3:55 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. |
| 5:10 p.m. | 5:50 p.m. |
| 6:30 p.m. | 7:05 p.m. |
“We have seen unprecedented growth in the number of people riding the water taxi to and from Vashon. Expanding service to 6 days a week reflects the growing need for greater transit options for Vashon residents,” said Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “Saturday service means more opportunities to visit the brand-new Seattle waterfront, it means more days of being able to explore new places in the County, and, it means more connections with family, friends and local businesses on Vashon.”
The $1.1 million in funding for the expanded service comes from the State Legislature as part of the State Transportation Budget adopted earlier this year.
“I’m pleased that the State Legislature was able to partner with King County to expand this essential, high-demand, and reliable transit service,” said State Senator Emily Alvarado.
“Saturday water taxi service to Vashon has been a dream for islanders and mainlanders alike—and thanks to the tireless advocacy of Vashon residents, the leadership of Sen. Alvarado, and partnership with the Executive and Metro, that dream is now a reality,” said King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who represents Vashon on the Council. “This is a major milestone in our continued efforts to enhance connectivity to the mainland—supporting Vashon’s community health, local economy, and creating more opportunities for recreation and enjoyment for communities on and off the island. I can’t wait to take a Saturday sail for a day on Vashon!”
The Saturday service is a pilot program, and the funds will allow the program to run for one year, which will end in Oct. 2026.
“Over the last year, the expansion of the weekday service to Vashon has shown just how valuable providing greater transit options can be not only for Vashon, but for our region,” said Marine Division Director Terry Federer. “Our team is ready to welcome aboard riders from Vashon and Seattle for six-day a week service and all of the opportunities these sailings will provide.”
How much does it cost to travel by water taxi? Water taxi fares to Vashon are $7.00 for adults ($6.00 with an ORCA card). Passengers 18 and under ride free. Reduced fares are available for people with disabilities, people with lower incomes, and seniors. Don’t have an ORCA Card yet? MyOrca.com is the place to go to purchase a card. If you want to use your mobile device to pay your fare, download the Transit GO Ticket app prior to boarding.
The water taxi will not be in service on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Day.
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Will there be Metro buses at the ferry terminal to take people from the ferry to Vashon Town? It is much too far to walk. If this has not been arranged, there will be a LOT of unhappy ferry visitors to Vashon. And I expect a lot of hitchhiking….
Diane, thank you for asking.
Metro will also maintain increased bus frequency on Vashon, with routes 118 and 119 operating Saturday trips that connect riders to the Water Taxi as well as to the Washington State Ferry.
This is a great start. THANK YOU. We had family join us at an M’s game and they had to leave early to take the Fauntleroy Ferry home by the last one. I wonder if it could be expanded to accommodate the major sport events. ALSO, we live without a car and get around via a tandem bicycle. It’s frustrating that they’re not allowed as it appears they’d fit but do not meet the posted allowed length. It would make it possible to get to Vashon much more easily. As it is it’s 20 miles RT just to get there.
Thank you for your question about tandem bikes. What I can tell you is that even as we’ve added bike racks that can fit a greater number of bikes as well as E-bikes, tandem bikes continue to be a challenge.
Tandem bikes tend to be longer than standard bikes, which limits where they can be stowed on the water taxi. USCG regulations require that vessels maintain clear and unobstructed access to critical areas such as machinery spaces (engine rooms) in the event of a fire, flooding, or other emergencies.
Our bike racks are on the back deck of the ship, which serves as a designated muster area for both passengers and crew during an abandon ship scenario. This is where life rafts are deployed and passengers would board them. In these situations, rapid response is essential, and the area must remain free of any obstructions to ensure everyone’s safety.
Whether tandem bikes can be boarded depends on how busy the specific sailing is. If there is space in the cabin, riders could stow their bikes inside the ship, but the decision is made on a case by case basis.
If you’re unsure on if your bike would not be allowed on the water taxi, please take a photo of your bike and send it to our email (Watertaxi.Info@kingcounty.gov) so we can assess and let you know prior to your trip.