https://www.patreon.com/SamWalkerOBXNews/posts/state-budget-on-162490332 I have mixed opinions on this, but they do need to make sure local commuters don't have to pay.
@J4yDubs Pray i'm wrong but if this passes i see another Portsmouth Island in Ocracoke future. Over the many yrs i have rode that free ferry and interacted with visitors that like me scrimped and saved to visit that wonderful island yrly and locals over there that need us coming to continue living there. If that passes well Ocracoke i will continue to pray for you. Bent is your boat able to let me hitch a ride once a yr? (joking)
@J4yDubs Completely agree. I understand the budgeting process, but there needs to be a carve out.
Definitely needs to be a toll. It costs NC $129 a car for Ocracoke each way. I understand residents and commercial traffic need a way around it but it is unsustainable the way it is.
@Craic'n Crabs NC probably has as much useless wasteful spending that could be better utilized as VA does. Needs vs wants ::flag-us::
Toll roads, toll bridges, toll ferries... we all have to pay to use them. I'm sure EZ Pass (or whatever the billing method) can accommodate a discount system for the frequent users.
IIRC, the last time this came up proposal was $20 for the Hatteras - Ocracoke ferry. I don't recall if that was one way or round trip. And the annual "commuter" pass was $150. I think that's fair. I'll say it again... Consider the all-in cost of a week's vacation on the banks. If $20 (or even $40) for a day trip to Ocracoke is going to blow the budget, then you're running too thin already.
Yep. Commuter discounts can be done on a weekly usage basis - use the ferry 4 or more trips in a week, get a discount for trips taken that week. If used less, then pay full fare per trip. No proof of residence or employment needed, just a simple fare discount. That covers weekend, part-time and full-time help.
@Greg Toll roads, toll bridges and toll tunnels almost all have an alternate route that's usually longer, but free. Unless you own a plane or a boat, Rt.12 is the only way to get to Ocracoke and they built it and named it and put it on maps WITH the ferries in place. Which politician wants to be remembered as the person who put Ocracoke out of business? What a wonderful legacy to leave for your children and grandchildren. If you think you have to be rich to visit Ocracoke now, wait until they put a toll on the ferries. The surf shop owner said in an interview that 80% of his business is daytrippers. If he closes the state loses sales tax, business tax, and as other businesses fail property values fall and the county loses real estate tax income. Hyde County needs the Ocracoke money. The 700 or so full-time residents generate a LOT of money for the county. Total population of Hyde County is less than 6,000. The part-time residents like us contribute to the tax base and the ones who own rental property contribute even more. Next year I propose that the Wright Memorial Bridge and the Basnight Bridge each begin charging a $20 toll. Each way. The state needs the money and all the rich p
@johnbt Your points are why I said I'm mixed on this one. The ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke is really an extension of 12. I think it should be treated as such, but the reality is that it's a much more expensive extension. I happily pay for the $15 for the ride from Cedar Island to Ocracoke and would pay for the ride to/from Hatteras, but a lot of people wouldn't pay it and Ocracoke would suffer. I really don't know what the answer is. I don't think anyone wants a bridge, but that would probably be the cost effective answer. I hope it never happens.
@johnbt I only addressed the part about discounts for workers and frequent users. You'll have to take up your issues about the tolls with the state.
@johnbt I certainly understand your concern for the well bring of Ocracoke. However... "Pay up for the wear and tear on the roads." That dog won't hunt. We all "pay up" to the tune of 41¢ per gallon. Fee for the ferry should have started a long time ago. State kept kicking the can down the road because bad feels. Now they're behind the 8 ball.
@Greg So far the government has only talked about selling a pass for residents. I assume that the requirements will be the same as the current requirement to get a Priority Pass for the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry - you have to be a legal resident and have a driver's license that says you live in Ocracoke. That takes living here for 6 months or more during a year and getting a NC driver's license. And paying NC income taxes. I know people who have done it and having a Priority Pass on one of your cars is nice. Doesn't help anyone else in the household because they cannot borrow the car with the pass. One of the very few stipulations when we agree to buy our cottage was that the seller had to drive us to Manteo for the closing because she has a pass. :) If they want to make money off the Hatteras-Ocracoke run they should charge double if you want to make a reservation. That would be worthwhile. And they need to allow elderly dogs in the air conditioned cabin with their elderly owners.