Impending ferry tolls announced by DOT | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

    The Raleigh News & Observer is reporting that the Department of Transportation has issued its new schedule of ferry tolls but is delaying enforcing them until the Governor tells them to do so. (See link below).

    The N&O reports the tolls to be:

    Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach (Neuse River), now toll-free: Car and driver, $4, more for larger vehicles. Pedestrian or passenger, $1. Bicycle, $2. Motorcycle, $2.50.

    Aurora-Bayview (Pamlico River), now toll-free, and Southport-Fort Fisher, now tolled: Car and driver, $10, more for larger vehicles. Pedestrian or passenger, $2. Bicycle, $3. Motorcycle, $5.

    Swan Quarter-Ocracoke and Cedar Island Ocracoke (Pamlico Sound), now tolled: Car and driver, $27, more for larger vehicles. Pedestrian or passenger, $5. Bicycle, $10. Motorcycle, $15.

    A one-year commuter pass good on all ferry routes would be available for commuters and other frequent riders: Car and driver, $500, more for larger vehicles. Pedestrian or passenger, $100. Bicycle or motorcycle, $500.

    One-year passes good only on a single route also would be offered at lower rates: Car and driver, $150 on Cherry Branch ferry, $200 on Aurora and Southport ferries, $300 on Swan Quarter and Cedar Island ferries, higher for larger vehicles. Other pass rates range from $25 to $75 for pedestrians and passengers, and $150 to $300 for bicycles and motorcycles.

    Children younger than 12 would ride toll-free, and adults 65 and older would get 10 percent discounts.

   Commentary

    So now we know. How much it will cost and what all the fuss was about.

    During the last legislative session while the state was trying to balance its budget the Legislature mandated that DOT increase revenue from tolls on the ferries by $5 million. The fat then hit the fan.

    We know this is not going to be real popular with some of our readers, but we have to say it anyway. Good move. All of the screams about hitting "working people" it seems to us were created by a few politicians who wanted to score points for the upcoming election.

    The simple fact of the matter is that the ferries do not collect as much money from users as they cost. So somebody has to make up the difference. The choice is to make those who do not use the ferries pay or to make those who do use them pay a little bit. Given the fact that the DOT has come up with one-year passes that seem to us to be very reasonable considering the amount of money using the ferry saves a person compared to driving around, it seems no more unfair for these people to pay than for state employees who drive to work to have to pay to park on state-owned property once they get there. And parking fees are much more than these ferry fees. In fact, we suspect most state employees would welcome a $150 to $200 per year parking fee. In fact, we would suggest that the companies who employ these workers ought to buy the annual passes for their employees.

    But the point is that it is not right to expect people to have to pay higher gas taxes that go for ferries when they don't use the ferries. Especially when using the ferry reduces the amount of gas tax these people would otherwise have to pay to get to and from work. Ferries are a good deal for those who use them every day to get to work. They save time and money. Why should users not pay?

    And besides, maybe we'll get some of that money the tourists are always said to be spending in the state.

    Click here to read more about the issue.