— from Washington State Transportation Commission —
The Washington State Transportation Commission held its final hearing today, Tuesday, Aug. 6, in Seattle and adopted increases to current ferry fares that will take effect Oct. 1, 2019, and May 1, 2020. The fares were set to ensure that $407 million in revenue is generated between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2021, as required in the recently passed two-year state transportation budget.
A summary of the ferry fare and policy changes coming this fall and next spring:
- Oct. 1, 2019
- 2.5 percent fare increase for vehicles
- An additional 5 percent fare increase for oversize vehicles on the Anacortes/ Sidney, B.C., route
- 2 percent fare increase for passengers
- Reservation no-show fee will be increased up to 100 percent of the one-way fare paid, based on a standard-sized vehicle
- The time in which transfers can be made on the San Juan Islands Interisland ferry is valid through the end of the service day it was issued
- May 1, 2020
- 2.5 percent fare increase for vehicles
- An additional 5 percent fare increase for oversize vehicles on the Anacortes/ Sidney, B.C., route
- 2 percent fare increase for passengers
- A 25-cent increase for the capital surcharge, dedicated to the construction of a new vessel
The commission also authorized Washington State Ferries to pursue two different pilot programs to test changes to fares and fare collection methods:
- Low Income Fare Pilot: Starting no earlier than 2020 and contingent on receiving funding from the State Legislature and approval from the commission, this pilot would test a special passenger fare for low-income customers. If implemented, the pilot would run for no more than three years.
- “Good to Go!” Pilot: This pilot would test the use of the “Good to Go!” system currently used to collect tolls on highways and bridges, to also collect ferry fares. Special fares might be established as part of this pilot, with approval from the commission. If implemented, the pilot would run for up to three years.
For more information on transportation commission or its ferry fare proposal, please visit the commission’s web site at: www.wstc.wa.gov
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
I wonder how many contacted them with the express opinion that we were not in favor of this increase? The ferry is our highway and it would be helpful if some of the gas tax went into the ferry system for local people living on various islands.
I agree with Carol. They raise fares yet can’t perform, going off island has become a nightmare
Could someone clarify the 100% of the one way fare? Considering the San Juans is round trip does that mean half? And half of what? A single use ferry pass or cost of a single use from a multi ride pass.
What does “The time in which transfers can be made on the San Juan Islands Interisland ferry is valid through the end of the service day it was issued” mean?
So, despite all the “public outreach,” meetings, hearings, blah-blah, the end result is precisely what was first proposed.
Two replies to previous posts: First, the no-show penalty can be up to 100% of the applicable one-way fare, which would be calculated as 50% of the round-trip standard size car and driver fare for the applicable season. And second, gas tax funds already subsidize ferry operations throughout the system, and the domestic San Juans route has among the highest rates of subsidy (as a percentage of costs) of any in the system.