We’re pretty big fans of the water taxi to West Seattle around here–it’s a nice alternative to waiting for the bus in the summer, and we wish that they would run it year-round. And now, while everyone has been in a flap about the SLUT nearing completion in South Lake Union, a new water taxi has entered the lineup: the South Lake Union Water Taxi.

Although they haven’t really done much advertising yet, the SLUWT runs two lines, one between the Center for Wooden Boats and the University District, and the other from SLU to a dock under the Aurora Bridge. The east side trip takes about 30 minutes and the west run takes about 20 minutes. The SLUWT is $3 one way and $5 round trip. It’s running on a trial basis right now and will shut down on November 23 to re-open on May 1 [PI].

Now, I live in Eastlake, and have always wished there was a water taxi to get to Queen Anne or Fremont, which currently have to be reached by long circuitous Metro routes. And a water taxi isn’t going to change my commute at all, since I walk to work. But if I’m headed to Fremont and not in a hurry, would I rather take a ride on a heated electric boat instead of a steamy crowded bus? Maybe. Are people going to commute from the University District to South Lake Union by half-hour boat ride instead of by bus in half the time and for half the price? Maybe not.

I’d like to see Lake Union being used for commuting a bit more, since traffic is certainly not going to get better, and it’s not really fair to compare the Elliott Bay Water Taxi to a brand-new model. It’d be exciting if the new water taxi worked out. But I think that it will have to work with Metro in the same way the West Seattle version does, by accepting bus passes as fare and working out a shuttle to and from regular bus stops (or, you know, trolley stops). I’d love to love the SLUWT, but it needs to make our relationship a little bit more worthwhile.