Legislature puts off making tough, important ferry decisions
Published August 10, 2013
Editorial by Wilmington Star-News, August 6, 2013.
After more than a year of debate over tolls for the N.C. Ferry System, the Honorables have decided that inaction is the best course of action. Rather than authorizing the Department of Transportation to increase tolls or vote the issue down, they are leaving the option to local transportation planning organizations.
While no doubt an easy way to avoid angering voters who ride the ferries, the solution is a cop-out. The ferry system is run by the state, and the state should set the fares.
Coastal residents made their objections heard during a series of hearings, and former Gov. Beverly Perdue even placed a moratorium on tolls. Although lawmakers doubted she had the power to do that, they went along to avoid a political showdown.
The measure was unpopular with ferry riders who objected to the size of the toll increases and the decision to charge on currently free routes used mostly by commuters while exempting two others, including the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry used mainly by tourists. Tolls for the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry would double under the fee schedule that was supposed to begin July 1, and which included a new $2 per-passenger fare.
As part of the 2013-14 budget package, the DOT won't impose the new tolls unless the local rural transportation planning group asks for the higher tolls.
That sets up the possibility of a piecemeal fare system that should be consistent. Even transportation officials were not certain last week whether the Honorables' decision to leave it to the locals applied to all ferries or only the ones that currently have no tolls.
In pushing for higher tolls, Republican sponsors said the ferry division should increase its annual revenue by $5 million. The system is costly to operate, but it also is an extension of the state highway system for people who live in the easternmost parts of the state, where wide expanses of water separate island residents from the mainland.
Many residents felt that lawmakers did not hear their concerns about the size of the increases and especially about tolling the Cherry Branch and Aurora-Bayview ferries, which are predominantly used by people commuting to and from work. Cherry Branch serves the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station workforce, while the Aurora-Bayview ferry transports employees to the PCS Aurora phosphate plant.
The Honorables need to decide whether to stick to their original plan, however unpopular, or to work with residents and local transportation planning groups to come up with a fairer and more reasonable fee schedule – or, alternatively, whether to leave the tolls as they are.
The local-option option simply passes the buck.
August 10, 2013 at 4:07 pm
dj anderson says:
I'm surprised that folks concerned with the ferry services are pressing for a final solution to costs. Well, those paying tolls are pressing. Finding the one solution policy that fits all is not at hand, so waiting makes sense. Everyone has their own solution.
I hold notions, myself. Had not the legislature prevented it, planning committees could have used Global Warming data to stop maintaining NC 12 on the banks. Once cars are not useful, perhaps scooters and bikes could be on the islands and the ferries simply carry pedestrians & bikes over. There could be 'season tickets' sold to locals at say, perhaps just triple a single voyage, and the tourists pay their "imported" money at higher rates, with the tourist ferries supporting the commuters.
Just as toll roads are now in use in NC, so are tolls for ferries, which are expensive to maintain. From Swan Quarter to Ocracoke is about a 30 mile ride costing about $15. Those short commuter ferries further south are about 20 minute rides costing nothing, I thought. They can save money in gas and time for drivers.
Anyway, there doesn't seem to be a 'compromise' solution yet, and breaking the ice with some compromise in the GAssembly would be a great omen, wouldn't it?
