KINGSTON, Wash. — The Kingston-Seattle foot ferry has attracted far fewer passengers than the Port of Kingston expected when the service started in October 2010, and it's future is in doubt.
Shutting down the service and selling the two 149-passenger boats is one of the options for port commissioners at Monday night's meeting. They also could drop the service to one vessel or continue as scheduled, despite the cost.
The Seattle Times reports an average of 20 people take the $5 ferry ride from Kingston to Seattle in the morning and about 30 take it from Seattle to Kingston in the evening. Commission Chairman Marc Bissonnette says "It's bleeding money pretty bad."
A state ferry also operates out of Kingston, connecting the Kitsap Peninsula to Edmonds.
Fare hike in May
WSDOT press release: As Washington state ferries voyage into the peak travel season, all ferry fares will increase on May 1. Another fare change will increase the discount for vehicles shorter than 14 feet.
Washington State Ferries is implementing an across-the-board, three-percent fare increase to help cover operating costs and meet revenue targets. This increase applies to all fare types, including vehicle/driver, walk-on, and multi-ride cards.
