Passenger ferry service from the Des Moines Marina to downtown Seattle is set to begin in 2010.

The King County Council, acting as a ferry district board, authorized on Nov. 13 the Des Moines/South Puget Sound run as one of five demonstration projects.

If successful, the demonstration route could become permanent.

A Kirkland to Seattle run is the first experiment, scheduled to begin in July 2009. The Des Moines route is expected to be next.

All routes will be supported by shuttle services to deliver commuters to docks and connect them with park-and-ride lots and other modes of transportation.

"We are all tired of struggling through traffic on our region's most congested roads, like SR 520, I-405 and I-5," said Councilwoman Julia Patterson, D-SeaTac.

"Ferry service provides one more transportation option that is reliable, on time, and faster than getting in your car."

Former Port of Seattle Commissioner Jack Block Sr., at an earlier public hearing credited the ferry district with "a strong and a bold move to advocate the rebirth of the Mosquito Fleet."

Officials from Des Moines testified they are eager to participate in the demonstration routes.

"The Elliott Bay Water Taxi and the Vashon passenger-only ferry are proven successes, taking cars off our roads and giving commuters better choices to get where they need to go," observed County Councilman Dow Constantine, D-West Seattle.

"I am pleased that we have secured a stable funding source to keep these vital services going, and I'm excited about the opportunity to expand that success throughout the county."

The state Legislature in 2003 authorized counties to create local ferry districts whose sole source of revenue is a property tax assessment.

Eighteen speakers testified at a public hearing Nov. 8 in favor of the district's funding plan, proposed by County Executive Ron Sims as a levy of 5.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation per year.

The council created the ferry district on April 30 to expand transportation options for county residents through the provision of waterborne transit services. All nine members of the county council sit as the King County Ferry District Board of Directors.