This coming Monday, June 13, Washington State Ferries will be presenting the new fare increases and other information at the Kingston Community Center at 6:30 p.m. I suggest you attend, hear what is said and make your thoughts and opinions known.

Issues of interest are:

— 2 1/2 percent general fare increase.

— 25 cent per ride surcharge for new ferries.

— New fuel surcharge to be imposed automatically without review when the price of fuel goes up — could amount to a 20 percent fare increase every three months.

— Changing the ratio between car and driver fares and walk-on fares on future fare increases.  This is an attempt at social engineering to get people to walk on instead of bringing cars. It will further increase the subsidy of walk-ons by vehicle drivers.

— Changing the vehicle length for the standard car and driver fare and adding a new smaller-vehicle and driver fare. The smaller-vehicle fare would apply to about five makes of really small cars, such as the Smart car, three-wheeled motorcycle types and some very expensive sports cars. The idea is that we will all be convinced to go out and purchase a dinky car, thus increasing the number of cars that will fit on a boat.

I strongly recommend you come to this meeting, hear what is said and express your thoughts. Plus, they will have cookies.

Things to remember: This summer it will cost more than $50 for a family of four to cross the water and return in their car, and the daily commuter can spend as much as $5,000 a year on the ferry.

Dennis Cziske
Kingston Ferry Advisory Committee