Commuting From Gig Harbor To Seattle
Table of contents:
Alison Paoli
For five years I made the daily commute from Gig Harbor to Seattle. While some people balk at the idea, I did it for two main reasons: 1) I wanted my kids to grow up in the amazing family-friendly environment that Gig Harbor is, and 2) instead of driving I took public transportation which allowed me to get work done, both personally and professionally, before I even stepped in the office.
I also appreciated the mental breather that riding public transit gave me between my crazy work day and family life. I could listen to a podcast, stream a TV show, or even take a quick nap. It was my quiet time and I valued it.
But that was life pre-COVID, when the daily commute was a thing for everyone. Today many employees who were once required to be in the office every day are now allowed to work from home part time, if not full time. If you are back to the office, though, it is totally possible to live and enjoy life in Gig Harbor while still being within a commute to the big city (and not hating your life because of it).
Here are some main public transportation options and the pros and cons of each.
Sounder Commuter Train
On weekdays the Sounder commuter train leaves the Tacoma Dome station every 20-30 minutes from 4:50am-7:50am, with one additional departure at 10:25am. The drive from central Gig Harbor is about 20 minutes to the Tacoma Dome station and there is free parking in a parking garage across the street (there are paid options too if you would rather park within feet of the station).
The train has Wi-Fi and desks with power outlets. If your company allows it, you can use the hour each way as “in-office” hours. Truth be told, I got more done in those commute hours than I did at the office. It was completely uninterrupted and there were few distractions.
Once you arrive at the King Street station in Seattle, you are right next to the light rail station. Light rail can take you to numerous places throughout Seattle as well as north of Seattle to Edmonds and east to Bellevue and, eventually, Redmond. I worked in the heart of downtown Seattle and would ride the light rail for about five minutes.
For the ride home, the train leaves the King Street station every 20-40 minutes from 2:48pm-6:43pm. If you miss your usual train, another is not far behind.
But what happens if you miss your train or need to travel at off times? There is a bus just outside the station that runs very frequently between the King Street station and the Tacoma Dome station, and if you take it during non-peak commuting hours, it can be even quicker than the train.
Pros:
It is reliable and not impacted by traffic.
If you are prone to motion sickness, this is a great way to commute.
There are bathrooms in every car.
Tables, outlets, and Wi-Fi make working from the train a breeze.
It is rarely packed so you can often have the seat next to you all to yourself.
Most of the riders are business people.
It’s clean and doesn’t smell bad.
Cons:
Very, very infrequently there will be an accident on the tracks and this backs up trains.
When the Mariners have a day game (and are playing well), it can get packed on the return trip for one or two time slots.
More information:
Sound Transit Express Bus
We have one bus, the Sound Transit 595, that goes from either the Purdy Park & Ride or the Kimball Park & Ride in Gig Harbor right through downtown Seattle on 4th Avenue to Belltown. It leaves Monday through Friday between 5:00am and 7:00am, depending on which Park & Ride you are leaving from. It takes roughly an hour and 10 minutes to get from the Kimball P&R to downtown Seattle and can be impacted by traffic.
The buses and reclinable seats are akin to charter buses. The seats are comfortable and there are overhead bins. There are no outlets, tables, or Wi-Fi.
The bus can get busy but is very rarely standing room only.
Aside from the 595 from Gig Harbor to Seattle, bus riders can catch the 590 or 594, both of which pick up from the Tacoma Dome, and go directly to downtown Seattle. The ride is about one hour, and it runs every 5-10 minutes during typical commuting hours.
Note: Gig Harbor receives service from Sound Transit, but Gig Harbor is not within the Sound Transit District, which means Gig Harbor residents do not pay the RTA or MVET taxes that impact property taxes, vehicle excise taxes (car tabs), and sales tax.
Pros:
The 595 is made up almost entirely of business commuters so the ride is quiet.
You can snooze easier on the bus than the train (at least in my opinion) since the windows are tinted and it’s darker.
The seats are more comfortable than the train (although the train is not that bad either!).
The 590/594 runs from the wee hours of the morning to almost midnight for the return trip from Seattle, making it the most flexible public transportation option.
Cons:
Sometimes you’ll get a “regular” bus (non-charter style bus) for the 590/594, but if you don’t like the bus that shows up or it is too full, you can just wait for the next one.
It can occasionally get a little rowdy during non-peak hours.
While it takes the carpool lane, a big accident can impact commute times.
More information:
Kitsap Fast Ferry
In 2021, Kitsap Transit launched the Southworth-Seattle Fast Ferry. It is a passenger-only ferry that runs once an hour in the morning (5:10am-8:45am) and evening (2:55pm-7:15pm), and the crossing is only 26 minutes!
The drive to Southworth (Port Orchard) from Gig Harbor is about 25 minutes from the Costco in Gig Harbor North and about 30 minutes from the Safeway in Uptown. The parking at the Southworth terminal is plentiful and very near to the dock, although there is a nominal fee.
The Fast Ferry takes you to the Seattle Ferry Terminal (Colman Dock), which is just a short jaunt from the light rail and metro buses. Bicycles and scooters, including electric bikes and scooters, are welcome on the boat.
Pros:
It is fast and you don’t have to contend with traffic.
It is heated and has indoor seating, but on a sunny day you can stand outside on the boat.
It is super easy to park and walk onto the ferry.
Cons:
If a ferry breaks down, it will impact the service. However, you can sign up for alerts so you’ll know in advance if your boat is impacted.
If something happens to the boat or ferry service between the time you get to Seattle and need to return home, your only other option is to take the bus to the Fauntleroy ferry dock and catch the Fauntleroy-Southworth Washington State Ferry. This can be a pain but it is a good backup.
If you miss your ferry and there are no more for the rest of the day, see the above bullet point.
If you get seasick, this may not be your best option.
