“It was awesome, the best thing that could have happened to the North Shore,” said Debbie Perates of Peabody, who knocked a half-hour off of her previous commute by car to Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the Seaport District. “Being on a boat just adds to the enjoyment of not being in traffic. I love it.”

The schedule will remain the same: three departures Monday-Friday at 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. from the Blossom Street Extension ramp to Central Wharf in Boston (at the New England Aquarium); and three return trips from Central Wharf at 7:15 a.m., 5:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

The trip takes about 30 minutes and costs $7 each way, $3.50 for seniors and children ages 3-12. MBTA Zone 2 passes or higher are honored. There is free parking for almost 250 cars at the Blossom Street Extension dock.

“There clearly is value in providing this service,” Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy said. “Not only does the ferry offer a quick, convenient and cost-effective method of getting into Boston and back, there is also the added benefit of having people from other communities come to Lynn and see first-hand what we have to offer. It is a win-win in that respect.”

The two-year pilot program is being funded through the Seaport Advisory Council. The city is hoping that another successful season will result in a continued commitment from the state.

“After years of effort, it was gratifying to see the Lynn ferry project come to fruition last year,” said Sen. Thomas McGee of Lynn, chair of the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation and a driving force behind bringing ferry service to the city. “We are confident that the ferry will spur additional economic development while showcasing one of Lynn’s greatest resources: the waterfront.”

James Cowdell, executive director of the EDIC/Lynn, which contracts with Boston Harbor Cruises to operate the ferry, said he is optimistic that this year will be even more successful than last.

“We feel we will build on the success we had last year and have an even better year in 2015,” he said.

“The overall atmosphere is great,” said Paula Mackin of Lynn, a paralegal at a Boston law firm, who took the ferry at least two days a week last summer. “Everyone is in a pretty good mood because you don’t have to deal with traffic. There’s a social aspect where you can get a cup of coffee and have a conversation with someone. All the feedback was positive.”

Mackin and Patrick pointed to the reliability of the service as another positive. “It pretty much ran on time and it was pretty consistent,” Patrick said.

Cowdell said that he hopes that, in addition to commuters, people looking to spend a day in Boston or even on the Cape will take advantage of the ferry. “You can easily get to Boston and then take another boat to the Cape and islands,” he said. “We hope people will see it as a recreational opportunity.”

The first 100 riders on the 8 a.m. ferry on Monday will receive a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card and a free copy of The Item, Cowdell said. There will be no charge to ride the ferry the first week.