The Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee (LIFAC) supports the ordinance establishing a $1 fare capital surcharge for our Lummi Island Ferry System being considered by Whatcom County Council this Tuesday.
- County Council will vote Tuesday, March 23, after a public hearing about adding a $1 surcharge to most ferry fares. If the resolution passes:
- The surcharge will go into a new Capital Fund in support of the financial plan for the ferry replacement project.
- Fares exempt from the surcharge include: Needs-based, senior/disabled, and student.
- The $1 surcharge would go into effect sometime before Memorial Day 2021.
- All punch cards purchased before new ones are printed will be honored.
- The surcharge will be collected both on multi-ride punch cards and on single-ride driver and pedestrian/passengers except exemptions.
- The public hearing preceding the County Council’s vote at their 6:00 PM meeting Tuesday allows for input from anyone for up to 3 minutes. The Council is remote. To watch or participate please visit whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil or call the Council Office at (360) 778-5010.
- In February, 2020, the County Council negated the alternative of a countywide taxing district as a source of local funding. The surcharge proposal resulted from monthly, publicly held discussions by LIFAC during its regular meetings.
- The basic fare structure remains unchanged, across the board.
- The surcharge has no “sunset” clause; i.e., it will continue to support the funding of new ferry capital costs for an undetermined time. The ferry is the only capital asset owned by the county with no replacement fund.
The Whatcom Chief will be more than 60 years old before a new ferry is purchased. Ferries of its type are built to last 40-60 years, depending on maintenance factors, and its safety and convenience standards are becoming outdated. This new surcharge will be a vital, dedicated funding source used exclusively for ferry replacement(s) and modifications to the terminals at Gooseberry Point and on Lummi Island. You can learn more about the ferry replacement project at https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3432/New-Ferry-Vessel.