(Editor's note: This letter from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is addressed to acting King County Executive Kurt Triplett and was copied to this newspaper)
 
Dear Mr. Triplett,
 
The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is very concerned about reports we are hearing that plans for ferry operations may be cancelled, which might include cancelling the King County Water Taxi which serves West Seattle. 

We wholeheartedly appreciate the county council's work that resulted in its approval and formation of the King County Ferry District. That planning and approval constitute an obligation to which we wish to hold the council . 

Creation of the King County Ferry District was insightful and serves a number of regions that are not so readily served by King County¹s Metro  and light rail -  transit systems.  Residents of King County who do not have to deal with water barriers would, no doubt, be more supportive of the ferry system were they surrounded by water with essentially only a single bridge to connect a large population to jobs and required services.  

West Seattle has experienced diminished service by the Metro system,  witnessed the delay in projected service by a BRT system, and have not heard that the County plans to provide any light rail service to our community any time soon.  Addiontionally, construction on the south end of the Alaskan Way Viaduct project makes an alternative commute system even more imperative.

The decision to support our community with ferry service was supported in whole by the King County Council. We applaud the Council for its decision to serve our community with a permanent Water Taxi service; it is a decision that must be carried forward, along with capital improvements already approved and scheduled.
 
Sincerely,
 
Cal Kinnear
Chair, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce\
Patricia Mullen
President & CEO
 
cc: Dow Constantine, Chair, Metropolitan King County Council