TACOMA — Pierce County is hoping to balance island needs with taxpayer burdens after conducting a new study of its ferry system.
The News Tribune reported that the study will evaluate the ferry system’s financial stability and help the county plan for budget needs for the next 14 years.
Pierce County operates two 54-car ferries that can hold up to 200 passengers each. Typically one boat runs at a time on the route between the Steilacoom dock and Anderson and Ketron islands. It makes 222 individual trips per week. The county’s ferry-related expenditures were just over $5.4 million in 2014.
The county last conducted a Waterborne Transportation Study in 2003. It resulted in changes to sailing times and proposed fare increases.
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