Commission unanimously approves price increases on Washington ferries for next 2 years

It’s official: Ferry prices will increase starting in October of this year.

On Thursday morning, the Washington State Transportation Commission voted unanimously to increase fares for the next two years.

Prices will go up 4.25% in October, then again in 2024.

“As a Washingtonian who pays taxes, I would like to know what the money is going towards” said Mary Hess.

The commission says the money will go towards operations and maintenance.

“That means the crews, the boats operation, the fuel. It does not include building new boats or capital facilities,” said Debbie Young, chair for the Washington State Transportation Commission.

Right now, it costs $17.20 for a driver and a standard car to get from Seattle to Bainbridge or Bremerton.

That’s going up to $17.90 in October, then $18.65 the following year.

In previous years prices have only increased by 2.5%, the commission says legislators are the ones truly setting the increase.

“The legislative budget requires that ferries generate $419 million in revenue,” said Young.

Currently, money earned from ridership accounts for more than half of the ferry system’s budget.

“Fares and the ferry system cover about 57% of ferries operational costs and the other 43% comes from general taxes statewide,” said Reema Griffith, Executive Director for Washington State Transportation Commission.

Earlier this year riders were given the opportunity to voice their opinion during public meetings, and were asked to fill out an online survey. The commission received over 5,000 survey responses, 40% of people were against a price jump.

“I would suggest that you consider adjusting those rates more equal across the entire system,” said Tom Thiersch.

“There is a lot of frustration out there understandably with reduced service and less reliability, something people can do it talk to their legislators,” said Young.

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