Proposed bill would end free ferry rides, Pamlico County officials and riders voice concerns

PAMLICO COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A proposed state senate bill that could charge ferry riders has prompted Pamlico County officials and riders to voice their concerns.

The process to get a ride as it stands now is simple: you find a ferry, hop on, and take it to your destination.

While working on base at Cherry Point, Dana Oliver took the ferry every week from Minnesott Beach to Cherry Branch for a decade without having to pay. However, if a senate bill gets passed, free rides could soon come to an end.

“I think it’s very wrong to all of us who take this ferry,” Oliver said. “This is an extension of Highway 306.”

North Carolina Senate Bill 257 would charge new fees on ferry routes that are currently free.

Listed on page 431 of the 439-page bill, the trip from Minnesott Beach to Cherry Branch would then cost riders $1 if they bring on no car, $5 for a vehicle less than 20 feet, and $10 for bigger vehicles. Some other routes could cost riders up to $60.

Pamlico County Manager Mark Brewington says the economic impact from this change would not only affect the county but also workers, charter students, and military personnel needing treatment among others.

“It’s a major thorofare for us,” Brewington said. “It’s a part of our highway system.”

According to the proposed bill, the Department of Transportation will offer an annual commuter pass for $150. Despite this, Pamlico County Commissioner Ken Heath says the cost should be zero and is hoping to win this fight for his rural county.

“You put a toll on it, then people are gonna ride it less and the only people it’s really gonna hurt is the people of Pamlico County and the rural areas here,” Heath said.

This isn’t the first time adding fees to more routes has been brought up. According to Heath, it was proposed to the general assembly in 2011 and 2023.