WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES

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Transportation Commission approves 2.5 percent ferry fares increase

posted 03/26/2007
WSF PRESS RELEASE:The Washington State Transportation Commission approved a 2.5 percent fare increase for Washington State Ferries at a Seattle-based public hearing in Seattle Thursday, March 22, 2007. The increase will go into effect May 1, 2007. The increase is less than the 4 percent increase proposed by the Commission in the 2007 Tariff Proposal released in February. The Commission decided on the 2.5% rate increase based upon comments from ferry users, who were quite vocal over the effects rising ferry fares have on their communities.

The 2.5% increase was the amount proposed by the Tariff Policy Committee to the Commission in January, but the Commission, concerned about ferry finances, increased the proposal to 4% before sending it out for public comment. The Commission held 11 public meetings throughout the region in February and March and received over 270 comments and received petitions with over 1100 signatures from San Juan Island residents.

The 2.5% fare increase will raise full fare Cross Sound passenger fares 20 cents from $6.50 to $6.70 roundtrip and a one-way full fare car and driver fees will go up 30 cents from $11.25 to $11.55 for non-peak season rates and 35 cents from $14.10 to $14.45 during the peak season, May 1 through October 14, 2007.

The Cross Sound frequent user passenger multi-ride card will go up in price from $52 for 10 round trip fares to $53.60. Cross Sound car and driver frequent user multi-ride card, with 20 one- way fares, will go up from $180 to $184.80. Washington State Ferries Central Sound monthly passenger passes will go from $83.20 to $86.80 unless purchased at a ferry terminal kiosk, where the fare is $1 less. Frequent users do not pay the peak season surcharge.

The Transportation Commission also decided not to approve the $10 and $20 reservation fees for the proposed Port Townsend/Keystone pilot reservations program.

When asked what this decision might mean to the possibility of implementing a pilot reservations program this summer, Director of Operations Traci Brewer-Rogstad said, "The department considers a reservation system to be a premium service and feels there should be a fee associated with this type of service. Our experience with reservation programs without an attached fee or discount is that there are too many no-shows. With constrained terminals and little room to stage waiting vehicles, it renders the program unworkable."

Brewer-Rogstad continued, "We had minimal time to plan and communicate the proposed reservations pilot, but it did bring the discussion to the table. We know the community is excited about what opportunities a reservation system might bring, and we certainly don’t want to dampen that excitement."

However, any pilot program will take resources and we do not currently have funding for implementing a reservations system. We had hoped the fees would offset the costs for providing a system for this summer. We now plan to take a step back and take time to work with the community to design a pilot project that could be funded next year."

The Transportation Commission approved the continuation of a discount program for in-need organizations and the technical adjustments to the peak season oversize vehicle fares. The seven-member panel also approved the return to unlimited rides for monthly pass holders when the region goes to the Smart Card technology.