King County takes over Vashon ferry

Riders may not notice, but as of today, ferry service to Vashon Island is being subsidized by King County, not the state.

The Metropolitan King County Council last November voted to get into the foot-ferry business, picking up Vashon service, starting other demonstration routes and eventually running the West Seattle water taxi year-round.

For the rest of the year, King County will pay the state about $900,000 to run the Vashon ferry using its boats and crew, and the state will keep the estimated $200,000 in fares.

Next July, the county will provide the boats and the crew and the state will be out of the route.

The ferry district is being financed by a King County tax, equivalent to $22 a year on a $400,000 home. The tax, authorized by the state Legislature without a vote, increases property taxes about a nickel for every $1,000 of assessed valuation.

In addition to Vashon and the water taxi, King County is considering five passenger-ferry demonstration routes, linking Seattle to Kirkland, South Puget Sound, Kenmore, Shilshole Bay and Renton. It plans to begin one of the routes next summer, but it hasn't decided which one.

A big issue is fuel costs, said Kjris Lund, executive director of the ferry district. She said the county likely won't buy its own boats when it takes over the service next year but will probably lease vessels.

The county plans to negotiate with the state to continue to use the docks in downtown Seattle and at Vashon.

The county's move was prodded by the Legislature in 2005, when it said it wouldn't continue to pay for the Vashon service. The Legislature gave counties the right to create ferry districts without a vote.

The total capital costs on the Vashon and West Seattle routes are expected to be $55.5 million, which includes the purchase or lease of three vessels, terminal rents and administrative costs.

The county plans year-around water-taxi service for West Seattle in 2010.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com