OLYMPIA – The state Transportation Commission has approved a draft agreement to raise ferry fares and is soliciting public comment before the raise will go into effect.
If approved, the 2.5 percent increase will be added to all ferries in the state system Jan. 1.
That includes the Port Townsend-Coupeville route, where passenger fares would increase about a nickle, to $2.70, one-way for an adult and about 20 cents for a passenger car, to $9.35.
The complete fare table is on the commission’s website, www.wstc.wa.gov.
The Black Ball Ferry Line is a private business, so the state action would not affect the MV Coho’s runs between Port Angeles and Victoria.
The public comment period will extend through Nov. 15, when the seven-member commission plans a final public hearing in Seattle where testimony on the proposal will be taken.
It is expected to take action after the hearing.
The time and place of the Nov. 15 meeting had not been set as of Wednesday.
The commission said Wednesday the proposal was developed with the state ferries division and an advisory committee of ferry riders.
State Transportation Commissioner Bob Distler of San Juan County said that no fares had been increased since 2007.
“Our farebox recovery is under 65 percent, and this will help us a little bit,” he said.
Distler said the increase won’t make a huge difference on the ferry system’s bottom line and that he had favored a larger increase.
He said the department is sponsoring limited public comment because of the low amount of the increase.
“There are people who will complain about any increase,” he said.
“But this is such a small amount that we don’t think it will generate much interest.”
The draft fare proposal also would phase in “tariff route equity” in the San Juan Islands, meaning that an extra 2 percent increase for the San Juan’s Inter-island fares is proposed.
Other pricing changes also are expected on the San Juan Island route.
The state ferries system plans a public meeting Thursday, Nov. 4, on the interisland ferry serving the San Juan Island.
Presentations will be given as audiences come aboard from Friday Harbor at 11:35 a.m., from Orcas at 12:25 p.m., from Shaw at 12:40 p.m. and from Lopez at 1:05 p.m.
The public can submit written comments by e-mail to transc@wstc.wa.gov or through the postal service at P.O. Box 47308, Olympia, WA 98504.
Telephone comments are also accepted at 360-705-7070.
For more information, visit www.wstc.wa.gov.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
