This Sunday, April 5, the Water Taxi’s 2009 summer season will kick off with a celebration from noon to 2 p.m. at Seacrest Park. There will be live entertainment, refreshments, and family activities, plus a full day of free Water Taxi rides.

"I'm hoping people will be there to be the first of what will hopefully be a records season for us," said Dow Constantine, West Seattle's local King County council representative who has been an avid supporter of the passenger ferry.

This marks the earliest the water taxi season has ever started.

The Fireboat Leschi’s water cannons will greet the King County Water Taxi, previously named Elliott Bay Water Taxi, when it arrives at the Seacrest Dock in West Seattle at approximately 12:40 p.m.

The water taxi will have its longest season to date, continuing service on the West Seattle-to-downtown route through Oct. 31. Soon after, year-round service could begin.

On March 26, the Seattle Parks Board voted to recommend that the parks superintendent approve a proposal which would expand the dock at Seacrest Park so the King County Water Taxi can start year-round operations in early 2010.

"I'm looking forward to being able to provide West Seattle with an improved service and year round transportation," said Constantine.

Accommodating year-round service requires a new floating dock at Seacrest Park with a wider, longer gangway. New concrete floats would also provide greater stability and easier access for kayakers and other small boats.

In 2008, after the King County Ferry District took over the Water Taxi, a record high of 182,000 riders used the service. Soon after, the district recommended the service become year-round in 2010.

If approved by the superintendent, the project would likely go to bid in July so that construction might be completed by December.

This year's water taxi will feature a new look, dock signage has been improved, and the boat will accept the new ORCA fare cards, in addition to other transit passes. A new vessel may be used in coming years.

The free shuttle van service has also been split into two routes. Route 773 will serve the West Seattle Junction and Route 775 will serve the Admiral District, Alki and Harbor Avenue. The shuttle will operate between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and between 8:45 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. on weekends.

The boat will depart about every 40 minutes during commute hours and hourly during the middle of the day. Evening service will be offered on Friday and Saturday nights with the last sailings leaving Pier 55 at 10:30 p.m. and Seacrest Dock at 11 p.m. Evening service will also be offered for every Seattle Mariners home game, giving baseball fans a relaxing alternative to game-day gridlock.

The one-way fare for the King County Water Taxi is $3 for anyone over the age of 5. Passengers with a valid Metro transfer pay just $1. Also accepted for full fare are PugetPasses, FlexPasses, Metro Access Passes, UPasses, Vanpool Passes, Saturday/Sunday Day Passes, and Regional Reduced Fare Permits with a valid monthly or annual sticker.