State proposes 2.5 percent increase in ferry fares

The Washington State Transportation Commission is proposing a 2.5 increase in ferry fares on all routes in the ferry system.

The Washington State Transportation Commission is proposing a 2.5 increase in ferry fares on all routes in the ferry system.

The commission announced a draft proposal on the increase on Wednesday, and the public will have until Nov. 15 to comment on the fare hike.

An extra 2 percent increase is proposed for the San Juan Islands, as well as a proposal for day-of-week pricing.

Commission officials said the fare increase was developed by the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Ferries Division in consultation with the Ferry Advisory Committee on Tariffs, an advisory group made up of ferry riders and representatives of local ferry advisory committees.

The public can comment on the proposal by e-mail to transc@wstc.wa.gov; by mail to PO Box 47308, Olympia, WA 98504, and by calling 360-705-7070.

The commission is expected to take additional testimony of the proposed fare increase at a public hearing in Seattle before voting on the proposal at the meeting.

If approved, the changes will take effect on Jan. 1.