LUMMI ISLAND, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Riders will likely soon see an increase in fares on the Lummi Island ferry.
The Whatcom County Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to request that County Executive Satpal Sidhu authorize the proposed rate hike.
Councilmember Ben Elenbaas noted that the fare increase has been discussed for “years,” but was tabled in part due to opposition from islanders.
“Part of why we haven’t done anything has been the loud voice that is the Lummi Island community,” Elenbaas said at the meeting. “And I listen, and I hear what they say, and I don’t hear a lot of them arguing that we should probably do a fare increase.” Along with increased fares, the council supported allocating $358,000 in American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds to the Ferry Fund to help make up for the lack of revenue.
The action comes as fare revenue has fallen in recent years due to a decline in riders, leading to “unsustainable” projected shortfalls in its budget. Operational expenses have increased from the aging ferry infrastructure and overall inflation. The council’s proposed resolution forecasts a fare shortfall of over $700,000 this year, resulting in a deficit of $434,000.
Upcoming fare increases have not been finalized yet, but the county’s Ferry Advisory Committee recommends a 24% increase for pedestrian multiride tickets and a 20% increase for vehicles. The last fare increase for operation costs was a $3 surcharge in 2010.
