Do fares cover the operating costs of the ferries?
Fares covered about 38 percent of the operating cost of the Elliott Bay Water Taxi in 2007. The remaining costs are covered through a county-wide property tax levy (5.5 cents per 1,000 assessed value), the state passenger ferry account and federal grants. It is anticipated that fares collected on the Vashon-downtown Seattle route will cover about 20 percent of the operating cost under the service contract with Washington State Ferries.
