Ferry fares could rise 2.5% in fall

Fares on Washington State Ferries would increase 2.5 percent Oct. 1 under a proposal by the state Transportation Commission, which sets ferry fares.

Under the plan, which will undergo public review before the commission votes on it, the initial increase would be followed by a 3 percent increase next May.

Among other changes, the proposal would create a new size category for cars less than 14 feet, with the fare eventually to be 70 percent of the standard vehicle fare. The change is intended to encourage small-car use while maximizing ferry-deck space.

The discount would be phased in over three years, starting with the fare set at 90 percent of the standard vehicle fare Oct. 1, 80 percent next May and 70 percent in 2013.

The proposal also would give a break to holders of monthly passes, multi-ride tickets and the ORCA ePurse, or electronic purse, which allows value to be stored on an ORCA card. The holders of those passes can bring bicycles onto a ferry without an additional charge.

The state also may implement a fuel surcharge to cover spikes in fuel prices not funded in the current budget. Under the proposal, the surcharge would be activated if fuel costs exceeded the average fuel price per gallon by 2.5 percent.

Based on a current price of $3.86 per gallon, ferry fuel prices would have to increase to about $4 a gallon to trigger a surcharge.

The surcharge could be no higher than a 10 percent increase.

In addition, a systemwide surcharge of 25 cents would be added to fares to go toward paying for ferry replacements.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com