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Empowering Tacoma's Sustainability
Join us in transforming Tacoma into a greener, more sustainable city. Energize Tacoma is dedicated to promoting environmental initiatives such as tree planting, sustainable practices, electric mobility, and pollinator gardens. Our mission is to advocate for projects that benefit the community while preserving our environment. Together, we can create a healthier and more vibrant future for Tacoma.
Energize Tacoma Supports Electric Water Taxi & Fast Foot Ferry Service
Duffy 12 passenger electric water taxi photo www.duffyboats.com
A Waterfront Transit Vision
Tacoma’s Foss Waterway is an underutilized asset in our city. By introducing electric water taxis, we can breathe new life into the waterfront while connecting key cultural and economic destinations. Similar services thrive in cities like Fort Lauderdale, where small electric ferries shuttle tourists between major attractions. In Tacoma, this model can be adapted to serve both visitors and locals, offering an eco-friendly transit option that enhances access and mobility. With the FIFA World Cup in Seattle and Tacoma hosting a Fan Zone having lasting infrastructure after these events is a game changer.
Our Story: How It Began
In the middle of 2024, Energize Tacoma began exploring how water transit could unlock Tacoma’s waterfront and energize downtown. With prior fast ferry feasibility studies completed years before, and the upcoming Fan Zone, now was the time to implement this plan. We saw that Tacoma’s cultural assets — its museums, waterfront parks, and growing university district — were underconnected and underutilized.
We asked a simple question:
“What if Tacoma reconnected itself and the region through the water?”
Early Contacts
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Mid 2024 we spoke with the King Co. Marine Division to ask about fast ferry dock space.
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Later 2024: Energize Tacoma made initial outreach to Artemis Technologies, the world leader in high-speed, all-electric hydrofoil ferries.
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Late 2024 – Early 2025: After conversations with Artemis, we reached out to Pierce County, sharing the vision and the opportunity.
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May 2025: We informed the county about Artemis’ ferry demonstrations happening in the U.S., proving the technology was not only possible but ready.
This groundwork positioned Tacoma to lead, with Energize Tacoma shaping the concept before anyone else was at the table.
Phase 1: Connecting the Foss Waterway
The first phase of the water taxi service would link:
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Melanie Dressel Park
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Museum of Glass (MOG) – serving as the central hub
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Seaport Maritime Museum
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Maritime 253 Highschool and Port HQ (future connection)
Service: Free to all riders
This 12-passenger electric water taxi would create a direct cultural corridor along the water, offering a scenic and convenient way to experience Tacoma’s arts and maritime heritage. As the Port Headquarters and Maritime 253 High School open, the final phase of Phase 1 would expand service to include their dock—providing students and workers easy access to UWT, the Museum District, and Tacoma Link Light Rail via Union Station.
This would be a great project to start economic growth along the waterfront in downtown. Building on the growing momentum, an electric water taxi would perform as a tourist and transit system.
How It Works
Phase 1 launches Tacoma’s water transit network at a local and symbolic scale. Small electric water taxis will circulate between downtown’s cultural anchors, university district, and port facilities. The focus is not on speed or scale, but on connection, activation, and visibility.
Added Programming & Activation
With support from community stakeholders and nonprofits, Phase 1 includes a year-long activation strategy for Tacoma’s waterfront parks and cultural spaces:
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Weekend Markets: Partnering with local organizations to host vendor and artisan markets at Melanie Dressel Park and the Museum of Glass waterfront.
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Food Trucks & Local Eats: Coordinated with small business owners and food entrepreneurs to draw families, students, and workers.
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Small Concerts & Arts Events: Local nonprofits and cultural groups will organize live music, arts showcases, and community performances.
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Family-Friendly Attractions: Nonprofits and youth-focused organizations will help create a safe, welcoming atmosphere for children and families.
What It Means for Downtown Tacoma
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Cultural Connectivity: Tacoma’s signature museums and university become linked by the water, strengthening the city’s brand as a place of art, science, and innovation.
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Waterfront Rediscovery: Underutilized spaces like Melanie Dressel Park are transformed into active community hubs.
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Immediate Foot Traffic: While the taxis are small (a dozen seats), paired programming could attract hundreds of visitors every weekend.
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Tourism Gateway: Visitors from the Convention Center, Link light rail, and nearby hotels gain a unique “waterfront loop” experience that keeps them downtown longer.
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Foundation for Growth: Builds broad community ownership of the project, generating excitement and public support for Phases 2 and 3.
Why It Matters
Phase 1 is Tacoma’s proof of concept — demonstrating how water transit can knit together downtown’s assets while activating the waterfront with year-long programming led by local nonprofits and stakeholders. This phase would allow for 3 vessels, staff, plus light infrastructure improvements for $1 million for the first year, with less costs each year due to the all electric nature of the vessel. This grassroots approach ensures the project is not just infrastructure, but a community-driven transformation.
At Energize Tacoma, our mission is to advocate for public projects that enrich our community while maximizing impact, minimizing tax burdens, and embracing environmentally sound solutions. As a nonprofit dedicated to Culture, Art, and Science, we believe Tacoma has a unique opportunity to lead the way in Blue and Green Economy investments. One of the most exciting prospects for Tacoma’s future is the implementation of an electric water taxi service—a sustainable, cost-effective, and community-enhancing transit solution.
Expanding Beyond the Foss Waterway
The long-term vision for Tacoma’s electric water taxi system extends beyond Foss Waterway. Larger, faster electric vessels could connect downtown Tacoma to Point Ruston, a bustling waterfront hub near Point Defiance Park and Zoo. This service would reduce traffic congestion, alleviate parking challenges, and provide a car-free connection to shopping, dining, and recreation for downtown residents.
Further expansions could see electric ferries linking:
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Downtown Tacoma to Gig Harbor – offering a sustainable alternative to bridge traffic
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Tacoma to Seattle or Olympia – with fast electric foot ferries creating an efficient regional connection
Tacoma: A Leader in the Green Economy
Investing in electric water taxis aligns with Tacoma’s commitment to sustainability and its growing role as a leader in green and blue technology. By embracing all-electric ferry solutions, we reduce emissions, improve waterfront accessibility, and build a transit system that benefits both commuters and visitors.
At Energize Tacoma, we support smart, impactful projects that enhance quality of life while embracing the latest in sustainable innovation. The electric water taxi service has the potential to transform Tacoma’s waterfront, offering a cleaner, more connected, and more vibrant cityscape for all.
Join us in advocating for a greener, more accessible Tacoma!
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30 passenger fast foot electric ferry photo by Artemis Technologies
Phase 2: Local Hydrofoil Routes
Vessels: 29-passenger all-electric hydrofoils
Routes:
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Dash Point ↔ Downtown Tacoma
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Gig Harbor & Point Ruston ↔ Downtown Tacoma
(with potential for additional stops as demand grows)
How It Works
Phase 2 expands Tacoma’s reach by adding fast, quiet, and efficient electric ferries that serve nearby communities. Unlike the free water taxi in Phase 1, these vessels would operate as paid service, with fares integrated into the ORCA card system for seamless use by commuters and visitors.
What It Means for Downtown Tacoma
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Neighborhood-to-Core Flow: Residents of Gig Harbor, Ruston, and Dash Point gain a direct, green connection into downtown Tacoma. Instead of driving or skipping downtown entirely, they arrive by ferry and step straight into the city’s cultural and commercial core.
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Steady Daily Ridership: Dozens to hundreds of trips per day, supporting cafés, restaurants, and small businesses with a new layer of reliable customers.
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Tourism Growth: Visitors from Gig Harbor and Ruston can easily build downtown Tacoma into their day trips, fueling weekend foot traffic for museums, arts spaces, and markets.
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Waterfront Identity: By offering multiple routes converging on downtown, Tacoma becomes known as a Puget Sound water hub — the place where culture, commerce, and transit meet.
Why It Matters
Phase 2 takes Tacoma beyond symbolic activation and delivers a functioning local transit system by water. It strengthens Tacoma’s ties to its neighbors while anchoring all benefits downtown, where businesses, cultural venues, and public transit can best absorb them.
Phase 3: Regional Fast Ferries
Vessels: 150-passenger high-speed electric hydrofoils
Routes:
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Seattle ↔ Downtown Tacoma (primary)
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Olympia ↔ Downtown Tacoma (potential extension)
How It Works
Phase 3 scales Tacoma into the regional spotlight. High-capacity ferries will move commuters and tourists across Puget Sound quickly and sustainably, offering an alternative to clogged highways and crowded trains. Like Phase 2, service would be paid, integrated into the ORCA system to ensure ease of use for all riders.
Two Core Markets
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Tourism Market
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Seattle’s waterfront hosts millions of annual visitors and one of the nation’s busiest cruise terminals.
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With targeted marketing at cruise docks, hotels, and visitor centers, Tacoma can attract these tourists for day trips, overnight stays, and cultural experiences.
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Each shipload of passengers represents hundreds of potential visitors flowing directly into Tacoma’s downtown restaurants, shops, and museums.
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Commuter Market
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South Sound residents working in Seattle will gain a fast, quiet, and reliable alternative to driving I-5 or relying solely on Sounder rail.
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Daily ridership could reach thousands of passenger trips, transforming downtown Tacoma into a true commuter hub with integrated ferry, bus, rail, and light rail connections.
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What It Means for Downtown Tacoma
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Massive Daily Volume: Up to 2,400 passenger trips per day could pass through downtown, with at least 1,000 riders spending money locally.
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Economic Engine: Even conservative estimates suggest $8.5–$13 million in new annual spending — enough to sustain dozens of new small businesses.
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Hotel + Retail Growth: With both visitors and commuters feeding into downtown, developers will see strong demand for new hotels, housing, and mixed-use retail projects.
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Event Connectivity: From Mariners games to concerts to the 2026 World Cup, Tacoma becomes a regional base city, giving visitors easy access to Seattle while boosting Tacoma’s own venues.
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Green Leadership: Tacoma positions itself as the electric ferry capital of Puget Sound, producing vessels locally and leading the way in clean maritime transit.
Why It Matters
Phase 3 is Tacoma’s opportunity to leap from being “close to Seattle” to being connected to Seattle. Done right, it creates a robust, sustainable pipeline of both commuters and tourists flowing into the heart of downtown — fueling growth, supporting businesses, and reshaping Tacoma’s regional identity.
Key Point: The large-scale ferries of Phase 3 must dock in downtown Tacoma, not Ruston. Downtown has the transit backbone, grid capacity, and cultural assets to absorb this scale of traffic. Ruston can and should remain served by 29-passenger ferries (Phase 2), but the regional system must feed into the city’s true economic core.