Nearly a century ago a "Mosquito Fleet" of small boats linked the communities that ring Lake Washington and Puget Sound. These vessels provided vital transportation connections. With the advent of automobile travel, passenger ferry service declined. Today, with highways and roads reaching capacity, our region's waterways are once again a viable alternative for moving people within King County.
In April 2007, the King County Ferry District (KCFD) was created to expand transportation options through water taxi services. King County Council members are the Ferry District Board of Supervisors.
The KCFD funds and oversees the operations of two existing water taxi services and is implementing demonstration routes in other King County communities. The KCFD contracts with public and private agencies for operations; these partners currently include the King County Marine Division, Washington State Ferries and Argosy Cruises.
When the Washington State Legislature cut funding for passenger ferry service, the KCFD stepped in to ensure continued service on the Vashon / Downtown Seattle route. The KCFD also took over the water taxi service between West Seattle and Downtown Seattle (previously the Elliott Bay Water Taxi). Learn more about existing service...
Technical analysis for demonstration services is currently underway, with service scheduled to begin in 2010. The plan is for each route will start with a two-year demonstration period followed by a third year for transition of the route to permanent service if the service is successful.
Actual routes and implementation will be determined by the KCFD. Analysis includes assessment of potential terminals, passenger market analysis, shuttle service, travel time assessment and schedule development. The public is invited to review information and provide comment throughout the process.
To learn more about the King County Ferry District, review our fact sheet, FAQ document and PowerPoint presentation.
Many supporting materials on our site our saved as pdf files and may be viewed using Adobe Acrobat. Download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
| 
