Ferries recommend cars pay more of general fare increase

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington State Ferries officials are recommending a 2.5 percent fare increase for vehicles and a 1 percent fare increase for passengers in a continued effort to fully fund and employ the system.

The Kitsap Sun reports that the proposed fare increases were presented to the Transportation Commission in Spokane Tuesday.

The Legislature calculated a 2.5 percent across-the-board increase Oct. 1 and another a year later would generate $357 million in fares it needs for the 2015-17 transportation budget. A lower passenger rate hike will not fund the program. But the ferries system proposed to make up the difference with the second fare increase May 1 instead of Oct. 1.

Public meetings will be held on the proposal in July. It would become official at a public hearing Aug. 4.