Picture This!
What's
new this week in transportation
Return of Water Taxi marks
start of Metro summer
The Elliott Bay Water Taxi returned to service May 26 as a one-year demonstration to determine its viability as a regular transportation
option.
Summer sun--or drizzle--means heading for the great
outdoors. Make your trip even more fun by leaving your car at home and riding Metro. Some of the region's most popular
parks, beaches and recreation areas are right on a bus line or within
a short
walking distance.
This summer marks the return
of the Elliott Bay Water
Taxi for a one-year pilot project. It will operate seven days a week between Pier 54 on the downtown Seattle
waterfront and the Seacrest dock in West Seattle. The crossing time between
Seacrest and Pier 54 is about eight minutes. Nothing is nicer on
a warm day than to skim across the water in a ferry surrounded by a panoramic
view, and Metro also offers connections to the Washington
State Ferry system [external link], which crisscrosses Puget Sound to all sorts of fun
destinations. Check out Metro's links to the ferries and other get-a-way
launching spots.
For a more active outdoor experience, take Metro to the
extensive trail system in east King County along the Mountains to Sound
Greenway [external link]. One of the best places to start is at
the Issaquah Alps Trails Club's Trails
Center [map: external link] at First Avenue Southeast and Bush Street in downtown Issaquah, near the
major intersection of Front Street and Sunset Way. Check specific
schedules to see which of the Issaquah bus routes stop near the center or other
area trailheads.
Sometimes it's fun to pretend you're a tourist in
your own town. The "Browse by Bus" brochure is available at many of
Metro's transit centers. The guide tells you how to use public transportation
to reach some of Seattle liveliest neighborhoods, waterfront areas, the
International District and day trips to suburban tourist attractions.
Some of those attractions have their own bus service. For
example, you can ride Metro's Pony
Express to the Emerald Downs racetrack on weekends and holidays. Route 770
leaves from downtown Seattle on Second Avenue. For just $2, you'll be dropped
off and picked up right at the gate.
Special service is also provided for Seattle Mariners
home games at Safeco Field. Mariners Special Service runs through Sept. 30 (and the post season, if
needed!), and provides connections
between the ballpark and 10 outlying park-and-ride lots. There is also a free
post-game shuttle to downtown Seattle.
Summer is also a time for fairs and festivals, starting with the
Folklife Festival over Memorial Day weekend. This year Metro will provide
extra service for
Fourth of July fireworks in Seattle and the Seafair
Torchlight Parade [external link]. Information on these events
and others (and any service disruptions due to those parades or street fairs) is posted in
Metro Online's Service
Bulletins and Special Events page.
Related links
Elliott Bay Water Taxi
Project
"The
wonder that is Metro: Just where can your bus pass get you?," Seattle
Weekly, May 24-30, 2001
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