King County Metro Transit is extending Elliott Bay Water Taxi service between downtown Seattle and West Seattle for commuters through the months of October and November.

Originally, the water taxi was due to shut down for the winter this coming weekend. But, operational costs were slightly lower than anticipated for the 2003 sailing season, and Metro has decided to put the savings into a partial sailing schedule through Friday, Nov. 28. Fares remain the same.

The current summer schedule will be in effect through Sunday, Oct. 5. Then starting on Oct. 6, the fall schedule will operate Monday through Friday only, with these departure times:

Seacrest Dock                                   Pier 54
West Seattle                                     Downtown Seattle
---                                                          6:45 a.m.
7:00 a.m.                                               7:15 a.m.
7:30 a.m.                                               7:45 a.m.
8:00 a.m.                                               8:15 a.m.
8:30 a.m.                                               8:45 a.m.
9:00 a.m.                                               ---                   
---                                                         3:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.                                              4:15 p.m.
4:30 p.m.                                              4:45 p.m.
5:00 p.m.                                              5:15 p.m.
5:30 p.m.                                              5:45 p.m.
6:00 p.m.                                              6:15 p.m.
6:30 p.m.                                              6:45 p.m.
7:00 p.m.                                              ---