New fare increases for state ferries start Tuesday

SEATTLE — Get ready to pay more to ride Washington State Ferries on Tuesday.

The Washington State Transportation Commission voted to hike the rates for all riders at a hearing in Seattle back in August.

The fare increases take effect Oct. 1, 2019 and May 1, 2020.

"The fare increases are really hurting people's ability to live on (Whidbey) Island. We have an increase almost every two years, if not more often," Whidbey Island resident Paulette Becker told KIRO 7's Ranji Sinha on Tuesday.

The commission said the fares will help 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.

Find a summary from the commission of the fare and policy changes coming below:

Oct. 1, 2019: 

• 2.5% fare increase for vehicles.
• An additional 5% fare increase for oversize vehicles on the Anacortes/ Sidney, B.C., route.
• 2% fare increase for passengers.
• Reservation no-show fee will be increased up to 100% 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% fare increase for vehicles.
• An additional 5% fare increase for oversize vehicles on the Anacortes/ Sidney, B.C., route.
• 2% fare increase for passengers.
• A 25-cent increase for the capital surcharge, dedicated to the construction of a new vessel.

Washington State Transportation commissioners also approved two new pilot programs.

One of them would allow drivers at ferry toll booths to pay their fare through their “Good to Go!” pass.  The details of how it would work have not been determined. The pilot will run for three years, but may not begin for more than a year.

The second pilot program would offer reduced fares for low-income customers.

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