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Governor vows ferry fare action

The Governor has heard your complaints about the Public Service Commission's decision to increase the cost of riding the Red Hook ferry. 

At Wednesday night's Town Meeting, the St. John Source's Lynda Lohr reported John deJongh said, "We are going to look into the feasibility of getting the rates lower."  He cautioned, however, that getting anything done by May 1st, the effective date of the new $7 ferry fare rate, is unlikely. (Island time, don't 'cha know.)

Understandably, the fare increase will hit locals very hard, especially those who work on St. Thomas.  Visitors to the island also made their complaints loud and long on this Web site.  One said staying on St. Thomas makes more economic sense now, while others, traveling with families, totaled up the higher costs of several people and their bags and said they'll take St. John off their itineraries.

I'd guess the Governor will come up with a compromise.  The PSC's new fare hikes will stand, but locals will qualify for a discount, as senior citizens do now.  I would not expect any step back on the $1 increase in the luggage fee to $3/bag.

Read the Source story at http://www.onepaper.com/stjohnvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=1223617225