Washington State Transportation Commission approves 2.5% ferry fare increases beginning this fall

Washington ferry riders should get ready to pay more for sailings starting this fall as the Washington State Transportation Commission approved a fare increase for both walk-on passengers and vehicles Tuesday morning.

In May, the commission detailed that an additional $9.2 million in operating revenue would need to be generated by 2023 with a fare increase per legislative requirement. The commission was considering three options for the fare increases, from across-the-board hikes for both vehicles and passengers in the first option to lesser increases for walk-on passengers in the second option. The third option would delay the hikes for walk-on passengers until May 2022.

The commission voted unanimously to adopt the first plan, which will increase fares for both passengers and vehicles by 2.5% starting in October 2021, and again by the same amount in October 2022. Drivers will pay 80 cents more in fares by the end of the two year period, while passengers will pay an additional 40 cents.

Commissioner Debbie Young of San Juan County favored the first option, noting that vehicle traffic on the ferries is bouncing back faster than walk-on ridership and the across-the-board increases would be "spreading the burden evenly."

"Opportunity to walk on is very unequal across the system," Young said. "We have a couple routes where there's fairly robust transit service on both ends, or the route land in an urban area where it's possible to walk to destinations, and then we have a lot of routes where that really isn't an option for people. There's inadequate parking, there's no bus service, and they really don't have a choice [than to drive on.]"

While many of the commissioners concurred that the state legislature should make ferry funding a priority, they also felt that the across-the-board hikes of the first option were the most equitable. Many also voiced support for initiating a low-income tolling study.

"It's almost like we're between a rock and a hard place, and I do believe we need to go back to the legislature and make sure that we fully fund our ferry system properly," said Jim Restucci of Yakima County.

The state's ferry fleet has been stretched thin this summer with fewer sailings and downsized vessels after the Wenatchee, which can hold 202 vehicles, was taken out of service following an engine room fire in April. 

"Customers may reduce or eliminate wait times by walking on the ferry, and travelling early in the morning or late in the evening," said WSF spokesperson Justin Fujioka.

Last month, the state commission approved toll rate increases for Seattle's 520 bridge, SR-99 tunnel and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge due to a $72 million revenue shortfall. A final decision on the rates will be made on Aug. 24 before adoption later in the fall.