Washington State Ferry Rides Hit Choppier Waters

The Washington State Transportation Commission has decided that paying for a ferry ride wasn't exciting enough, so they're making it more expensive (in a bunch of different ways). YOU'RE WELCOME. Think of it as a fun new game called "Guess how much this trip will cost me now!" Your bank account might need a life jacket! Let's see what's up.

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Here are Five Fast Facts on ferry rides getting more expensive:

1. 📈 Thing 1 And Thing 2 - Ferry fares will increase by 3% on Oct. 1, 2025, and again by 3% on May 1, 2026 because apparently even the ferries want a small raise.

2. ☀️ Summer Surcharge Surges - The summer peak-season fee will also jump to 35% on all routes next year. Apparently, beach vibes now come with a different kind of wave.

3. 👍 Silver Lining: Multi-Ride Pass - One good change to come out of all this is that as of next May your pass will last 120 days instead of 90. Because no one likes a full Debbie Downer.

4. 😣 New Fees Ahoy - Alas, there are also some new fees, too, starting with a $1 surcharge per ticket for vessel replacement (up from the $0.50 fee just introduced this year), beginning in October.  Next March, you'll also get a 3% fee on credit card payments, so you’ll get to pay more to pay more!

5. 💰 Goal Revenue - Driving all this wonderfulness is the fact that the ferry system needs around $409 million for operations over the next two years. The new hikes and fees should bring in around $412 million. Whew! 🤏

🔥Bottom line: So, if you love ferry rides, be ready: your commute just got pricier. Just remember that you're not only a passenger - you're a vital part of a very important government-required fundraising campaign! It's a small price to pay for the adventure of a lifetime...or at least the adventure of getting to the other side of the Puget Sound.

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Do you take the ferry often?

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