Metropolitan King County Council
516 Third Ave., Rm. 1200 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-1000 Toll Free: 800-325-6165 TTY/TDD: 206-296-1024 Fax: 206-296-0198 council@kingcounty.gov |
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King County Ferry District
Ferry District adopts work plan and funding for Vashon ferry, Water Taxi, and 5 demonstration routes across Lake Washington and Puget Sound Nearly a century after a “Mosquito Fleet” of small boats linked the communities that ring Lake Washington and Puget Sound, the Board of the King County Ferry District on Nov. 13 adopted a 2008 work plan, budget, and funding for operation of Vashon passenger-only ferry service, year-round operation of the popular Water Taxi, and five demonstration routes crossing those same bodies of water.
The state Legislature in 2003 authorized counties to create local ferry districts whose sole source of revenue is a property tax assessment. Eighteen speakers testified at a public hearing Nov. 8 in favor of the District’s funding plan, proposed by County Executive Ron Sims as a levy of 5.5 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation per year. The Ferry District Board adopted that plan, which will generate $18.3 million per year to fund:
All routes will be supported by shuttle services to deliver commuters to docks and connect them with park-and-ride lots and other modes of transportation.
The Metropolitan King County Council created the King County Ferry District on April 30 to expand transportation options for county residents through provision of waterborne transit services. All 9 members of the County Council sit as the Ferry District Board.
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View the 2008 Work Plan Overview powerpoint Read the County Executive's transmittal letter of Nov. 8 Read the Executive's briefing paper [PDF] on the King County Ferry District Plan and its attachments [PDF] Watch Video: Watch King County Connects video: Waterborne transit RealPlayer needed to watch videos. Related Information: "Passenger ferries: a moblie solution" --Seattle Times OpEd by Councilmembers Jane Hague and Dow Constantine Ferries: It floats our boat--Seattle PI Editorial Elliott Bay Water Taxi Elliott Bay Water Taxi sailing season extended Water Taxi ridership shatters previous records Water taxi will run through October --Seattle PI Will West Seattleites Get Ferry Service All Around Town? --Weekly Property tax hike to support ferry--News Tribune Passenger Ferry Plan Gaining Steam in King Co. --Kitsap Sun Decision by November on tax boost for foot ferries--Seattle PI Popular water taxi could run year-round--Seattle PI Foot ferries nearing a rebirth--Seattle PI |