The Washington State Transportation Commission held its final hearing in Seattle on Tuesday on its proposal to increase ferry fares. The proposal is designed to generate $357 million between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2017, as required in the 2015/17 state transportation budget for Washington State Ferries’ operations.
A unanimous vote was taken to make the following changes to fares over the next year:
- October 1, 2015: A 2.5 percent fare increase for vehicles and a 1 percent fare increase for passengers.
- October 1, 2015: The current over-height surcharge for vehicles less than 22 feet in length is eliminated.
- October 1, 2015: The over-height waiver currently in place for qualifying disability vehicles 22- to 30-feet long will be expanded to include any feature necessary to accommodate a disability on the vehicle, that may add height, rather than limiting it to a lift or other mechanism.
- May 1, 2016: A 2.5 percent fare increase for vehicles and a 1 percent fare increase for passengers.
- May 1, 2016: The over-height fare threshold for vehicles 22- to 30-feet long will be reduced from the current 7 feet 6 inches, to 7 feet 2 inches.
"The proposal is designed to generate." Funny how the public sector views confiscation as production. Why don't we all raise our wages and prices 2.5 percent? And let's do it again next week. Let's "generate" our way to prosperity.
ReplyDelete