WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Wednesday morning, a commuter ferry is going on a test run along the Potomac, carrying 75 commuters from Prince William County (web | news) to the heart of D.C.

Some would call the Potomac River northern Virginia's most underused highway. But commuters may be putting that highway to work in the future.

For the third time in eight years, Prince William County will once again be testing the waters: officials are looking into ferry service from the county to the district.

In the past, it has taken roughly an hour for the full commute, but that could be cut down as different points along the river are examined during trial runs. Starting points being considered include Harbor Station, Occoquan, Quantico and Belmont Bay. Officials say parking space will be among the factors influencing which spot is chosen.

Officials say they want to cut down on the time. Right now, on average, the river commute takes an hour. The Wednesday test, carrying an ABC 7 crew among its passengers, took two hours.

Despite the time, those who rode the river test Wednesday say they'd still trade views of the next commuter's bumper for the scenic views of the Potomac.

White's Ferry, which shuffles drivers between Loudoun and Montgomery Counties, has long been the answer for some. It charges about $6 roundtrip.

If all goes well, Prince William Commuters will likely pay more than that. In fact, they would pay more than the $10 price tag of a single-ride ticket on VRE (web | news) , one of the only options, aside from driving, for commuters in the area now.

But with Washington gridlock not getting any better, giving drivers another option might just be worth the cost.

Commuter Patience Chambliss said, "It takes half an hour on a good day." Chambliss commutes into the city daily from Lake Ridge. Today, she's getting a lift on the ferry. She is enthusiastic about the possible new option. "I could just get here, get on the ferry, takes an hour. The commute will be shorter. I'll get home earlier. It'll be nice."

"It has been clear to me that people want transportation alternatives, and I share in the vision of utilizing northern Virginia's last unused highway," said Frank Principi, a Prince William County supervisor.

The upcoming ferry tests will run Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The federal government is paying $225,000 to fund the tests, with the money coming through a Virginia Department of Transportation grant, officials said.

There's no single funding source that ferry proponents have identified to pay for the service, if it gets approved. But Principi said about $600 million from the federal economic stimulus package could help cover construction costs for docks at ferry stations.

Officials also have looked into combining federal, state and local tax money to pay for the proposed ferry, he said.

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