Ferries to unveil new fare system

Published 8:00 pm Thursday, March 15, 2007

WSF says new fare cards offer commuters greater speed, flexibility.

After an extended testing period, Washington State Ferries will unveil its new electronic fare system at Colman Dock later this month.

“We’ve tested the system and worked out a lot of the software glitches,” said WSF spokeswoman Susan Harris-Huether. “But we’re still not sure what will happen with thousands of people going through the turnstiles.”

Designed to streamline the fare process, the new system will be introduced March 27.

Instead of buying fare cards from manned ticket booths, both Bainbridge- and Bremerton-bound passengers will be able to do so from machines or on the Internet. The cards will open the turnstiles for one person at a time and have several advantages over fare books, including the ability to “replenish” rides or put cards on hold if they are lost or stolen.

The system resembles automatic fare options that have been operating in other cities for more than 30 years.

Instead of ticket books, riders will be able to purchase cards containing multiple fares at the same discount. The old ticket books for both car and driver and passengers will not be available after March 26.

Ferry system staff will be on board the ferries during commute hours from March 21-26 to show customers how the system works prior to the official launch.