Perhaps the Elliott Bay water taxi is the only segment of King County's transportation infrastructure gaining strength after the smack down voters delivered on election day to the Roads and Transit proposal.

The full King County Council acts as board of directors for the King County Ferry District, which the council formed last spring. The ferry district will manage the Elliott Bay water taxi and the Vashon passenger-only ferry but the King County Department of Transportation will operate the ferry system, said Mike Beck, who runs the county's waterborne transit program.

The plan is to operate the Elliott Bay water taxi seven days a week from April to October in 2010. During late fall, winter and early spring, the water taxi would run only during morning and evening commuting hours.

The ferry district also will study creating additional Puget Sound ferry service for Des Moines and Shilshole, plus new service on Lake Washington to Kenmore, Kirkland and Renton.

Each route would be served with its own 149-passenger vessel that could travel at 30 mph. The boats would be interchangeable.

The first demonstration route is planned to start in 2009 with additional routes starting in subsequent years. The main terminal for the ferry district would be at Terminal 50 downtown.

Paying for new ferry service will come in the form of a levy of 5.5 cents for every $1,000 in assessed value added to county taxpayers' property taxes. Collections are scheduled to start Nov. 30, 2008, Beck said.

Passenger fares pay for about 40 percent of the cost of operating the Elliott Bay water taxi. When the free shuttle bus is added to costs, fares cover about 32 percent of the cost, Beck said.

Patti Mullen, executive director of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, told the County Council some commuters could be taken off the road if there were more job opportunities in Seattle's neighborhoods. But she cheered the idea of new boats and better-tuned sailing schedules.

Representing the Southwest District Council, which includes 15 West Seattle organizations, Vlad Oustimovitch reminded those in attendance what West Seattle will not get since voters turned thumbs down on the three-county roads and transit measure: no widening of the Spokane Street Viaduct and no new off-ramp at Spokane and Fourth Avenue. That adds to the need for more passenger-only ferries, he said.

Jack Block Sr., a former port commissioner and Fauntleroy resident, called the "rebirth of the Mosquito Fleet" a bold move.

"It makes too much sense," Block said.

Jeff Franklin suggested another water taxi route from West Seattle to the University District.

"Just don't put the dock at a place that closes at night," he said.

Councilman Dow Constantine, who represents West Seattle, Burien and Vashon Island, said people have demonstrated they will use the Elliott Bay water taxi.

"This mode is a good one to use to sell people on transit," he said.

The County Council is scheduled to vote as soon as this week on future plans for the new ferry district.

Tim St. Clair can be reached at timstc@robinsonnews.com or 932-0300.