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State Transportation Commission
to Hold Public Hearing
on Ferry Fares
Posted
3.14.07
Transportation Commission
Office - PO Box 47308 -
Olympia, WA 98504-7308
(360) 705-7070
Date: March
15, 2007
| Contact: |
Reema
Griffith, Transportation
Commission Executive
Director, 360-705-7070 |
SEATTLE – The Washington
State Transportation Commission
will hold a public hearing
in Seattle on a proposal
to increase ferry fares,
make adjustments to the
way oversize vehicle fares
are calculated during peak
season, launch a reservation
pilot project on the Port
Townsend-Keystone route,
and extend a pilot project
that gives discounts to
in-need organizations.
The hearing will be held
on Thursday, March 22,
from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at
the Puget Sound Regional
Council Boardroom, 5th
Floor, 1011 Western Avenue,
in Seattle. A representative
of Washington State Ferries
(WSF) and the Tariff Policy
Committee will start the
hearing with a briefing
on the 11 public outreach
meetings held throughout
the Puget Sound during
February and early March.
A public comment period
is scheduled to begin at
1:20 p.m., after which,
the Transportation Commission
may consider adopting all,
part, or none of the recommendations.
This 2007 Fare Proposal
is based in part on recommendations
from the Tariff Policy
Committee. It continues
to implement the fare policy
component of WSF’s
Financial Plan, and takes
steps towards meeting the
legislature’s Joint
Transportation Committee
recommendations regarding
fare-setting policies,
including the study of
a reservation system as
a way of managing peak
hour travel demands.
The 2007 fare proposal
under consideration by
the Commission is outlined
below:
- A general fare increase
of four percent is proposed
and would go into effect
on May 1, 2007, with all
fares rounded to the next
nickel. In addition, WSF
would continue the phased
implementation of Tariff
Route Equity (which determines
rates based on route distance)
in the San Juan Islands.
- A technical adjustment
would be made to the
method of calculating
oversize vehicle fares
during peak season.
- A pilot program would
be established by summer
2007 that would offer
reservations on the
Port Townsend-Keystone
route for an additional
charge, based on vehicle
length.
- Holders of monthly
passes that are purchased
as part of the regional
SmartCard program would
be allowed unlimited
use. Monthly passes
purchased through the
Electronic Fare System
would retain their
current monthly usage
limits.
- A discount program
for in-need organizations
would be extended for
one year since it has
not been fully implemented.
The current pilot program
was established on May
1, 2006, with continuation
beyond May 1, 2007
subject to Transportation
Commission review and
possible modification.
The Washington State Transportation
Commission in an independent
state agency whose seven
citizen members are appointed
by the Governor and confirmed
by the Senate. The Commission
sets ferry fares and is
designated as Washington’s
toll authority. The Tariff
Policy Committee consists
of ferry users, transit
providers and Legislators,
all appointed by the Transportation
Commission.
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