Washington State Ferries Plan Fare Increases, Summer Surcharge

The Washington State Transportation Commission has approved fare increases for Washington State Ferries, effective October 1, with a 3% rise for both vehicle and passenger fares, followed by an additional 3% increase on May 1, 2026. Additionally, a 35% summer season surcharge will be applied to all routes next year, aligning with the current rate for the San Juan-Anacortes ferry. A vessel replacement surcharge will also increase by 50 cents to a total of $1 per ticket, and a 3% credit card transaction fee will be introduced in March 2026. The fare changes aim to meet the $408.8 million revenue target set in the state's transportation budget for the next two years. Meanwhile, BC Ferries is moving sailings from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay to a reservation-only system starting October 15 due to infrastructure work, with increased saver fares on 40% of sailings and waived change fees through November 30 to ease the transition. Digital tools, including email alerts and waitlists for sold-out sailings, will also be introduced to help manage the reduced terminal capacity during construction.