A controversial new fee is about to take effect, and it's got Washington state ferry travelers talking. Starting March 1, a 3% charge will be added to all credit and debit card transactions for ferry tickets, impacting a whopping 80% of travelers. But here's where it gets interesting: this fee is designed to help the state ferries recover costs previously paid by the state to credit card companies.
For commuters like Paula Derrington, who told KOMO News, "I’m actually surprised the ferry’s been able to keep prices down as much as they have, but I’ll just pay cash," it's a welcome change. However, others, like Shawn Rickett, who regularly takes the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston, fear it will only add to the dissatisfaction with the ferry service.
WSF estimates this fee could bring in $7.4 million over two years, but not everyone is convinced it will change their travel habits. Jackson Rice, a passenger at the Edmonds ferry terminal, said, "I don’t think it’ll change it at all because the people I’m coming over here to see mean the most to me."
This new fee is just one part of a series of changes. Lawmakers approved it in 2025 as part of the transportation budget, and it follows another 3% rate increase in May and a 35% summer fare hike to meet legislative revenue targets.
And this is the part most people miss: the money from this fee won't go towards ferry operations, but rather, it's specifically for processing card payments. So, while it might seem like a simple cost increase, it's actually a complex financial strategy to keep the ferries afloat.
What do you think? Is this a fair way to recover costs, or is it just another burden on travelers? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
