Years Of Fare Hikes Likely Coming To North Bay Ferries

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- The Golden Gate Bridge District is well on its way to increasing fares 5% on its ferries come July. But transit experts have said that riders will feel the real pinch several years down the road.

For users of Clipper cards the one-way fare from Larkspur to San Francisco would go from $5.70 to $6.00. From Sausalito to San Francisco it would go from $4.80 to $5.00.

However this proposal also includes five percent hikes each summer until July of 2015. That means that Larkspur ride will be $7.00 in a few years.

Ron Downing, the district director of planning told the district board at a public hearing that this could mean an extra $500,000 each year for the district.

KCBS Bob Melrose Reports:

"This proposal will bring our ferries' stored value Clipper fares in line with that five-year fare program," said Downing.

"It will also allow us to meet the board-adopted goal of a 40 percent fare box recovery for our ferry operations."

No one spoke at the public hearing, and the full board is schedule to vote in late April.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed)