The Washington State Transportation Commission voted to raise ferry fares, spurred on by a directive in the 2015-2017 state transportation budget that requires Washington State Ferries to generate an additional $8.1 million between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2017.

Beginning on Oct. 1, car and driver ferry tickets will cost 2.5 percent more, and passenger tickets will cost 1 percent more. The fares are scheduled to see an identical increase again in May 2016. The commission expects the fare hikes to help WSF generate the $357 million required by the 2015-17 state transportation budget.

The commission’s stated goal is to increase walk-on ridership over vehicles by raising passenger fares less than vehicle fares. This differential fare increase was proposed in 2013. In October 2013, vehicle fares were raised 3 percent, while passenger fares only rose by 2 percent. In May 2014, vehicle fares rose another 2.5 percent, while passenger fares rose another 2 percent.

While fares for most will rise in October, a few drivers will get a small reprieve: the current surcharge for over-height vehicles under 22 feet in length will be dropped. Also, qualifying disability vehicles from 22 to 30 feet long will be allowed greater leeway, with surcharges waived for any over-height vehicle features needed to accommodate disabilities.

Height regulations for other large vehicles will actually tighten by five inches in May 2016, when the over-height fare threshold for vehicles 22 to 30 feet long will be reduced from the current 7 feet, 6 inches to 7 feet, 2 inches. This change will help WSF to better allocate available space, because the Jumbo, Super, Olympic and Issaquah-class ferries all have a lower-wing height limit of between 7 feet, 2 inches and 7 feet, 4 inches. On these vessels, vehicles just under 7 feet, 6 inches must be loaded in the vessels’ taller spaces, but don’t yet pay extra for the privilege.