Washington State Ferries Proposes Fare Increase

— by Sam Gailey —

The Washington State Transportation Commission and Washington State Ferries met Monday, July 11, in Friday Harbor for its second of four public comments meetings regarding the ferry fare increase proposal. The Washington State Transportation Commission’s proposal is largely based upon input from Washington State Ferries and the Ferry Advisory Committee on Tariffs who provided their recommendations to the Commission at its May 2017 meeting.  The proposed increase must generate $381 million in operating revenue between July 2017 and June 2019, as required in the two year state transportation budget for the Washington State Ferry operations.

Ray Deardorf, the Senior Planning Manager with the Washington State Ferries, presented the fare proposal details and policy changes as follows:

October 1, 2017

• 2.9 percent fare increase for small and standard sized vehicles
• 0.8 percent to 1.8 percent fare increase for oversized vehicles (22 feet and longer), depending on vehicle size
• 2.5 percent fare increase for passengers
• Passengers who bring bicycles with trailers will see an increase as they begin paying the motorcycle/driver (stowage) rate instead of the combined passenger fare with bicycle surcharge

October 1, 2018

• 2.5 percent fare increase for small and standard sized vehicles
• No fare increase for oversized vehicles (22 feet and longer)
• 2.1 percent fare increase for passengers
• School Group passengers fare will increase from $1 per group for a one-way trip to $5 per group for a one-way trip.

The written comment deadline for the ferry fare increase proposal is July 21 at 3 p.m. and can be emailed to TransC@wstc.wa.gov. Verbal comments will be taken at the next two public meetings—July 11 at 6 p.m. on Whidbey Island at the Whidbey Telecom Community Media Conference Center, and July 17 at 6 p.m. on Vashon Island at the Vashon Island High School. The final hearing will be on July 26 at 10 a.m. in Seattle at the Puget Sound Regional Council Board Room. The Commission is expected to take action and vote on the final fare and policy changes at this hearing.