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Ferry riders face fare hikes under budget plans

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Riders on the nation’s biggest ferry system, Washington State Ferries, should brace themselves for another round of fare increases. The only remaining question is how much. 

The state House and Senate have come out with competing spending blueprints for roads and ferries. One thing the budgets have in common is higher ferry fares. The  increase this fall ranges between 2.5% and 5% and another 2.5% coming next fall.

Republican state Senator Curtis King says there’s bipartisan agreement to raise fares.

“Our ferry system (as is) is not sustainable. With this budget we are trying to start the process to rectify that situation,” says King.

He says the ferry budget is getting hammered by rising fuel prices. If prices go even higher, a separate ticket surcharge is a possibility.

To save money, senators also want to change course on buying biodiesel, meaning ferries would run on regular diesel for the next two years. Midday and late night service cutbacks are also proposed.

Lawmakers will be forging compromises between the  Senate andHouse transportation budgets before voting on a final bill.

Tom Banse covers national news, business, science, public policy, Olympic sports and human interest stories from across the Northwest. He reports from well known and out–of–the–way places in the region where important, amusing, touching, or outrageous events are unfolding. Tom's stories can be found online and heard on-air during "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered" on NPR stations in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.