Round-trip ferry tickets to Prudence Island could jump to $16.80 under a proposed settlement that would mark the first fare increase for the island's only ferry service in roughly a decade. The hike is smaller than what the ferry operator originally sought, but it still landed in front of state regulators this week as the company and residents weighed what it will cost to keep the boats running between the island and the mainland.
A&R Marine, which operates the Prudence Island ferry, filed its rate application on March 9, its first request for a fare increase in about 10 years, according to EastBayRI.com. The proposed settlement would raise round-trip passenger fares to $16.80, an increase of more than $6, as reported by WJAR. The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission discussed the agreement during a hearing Wednesday.
That price is a comedown from what islanders initially feared. A&R Marine's original filing proposed increasing all ferry ticket prices, with the cost of a one-way ticket more than doubling, according to The Providence Journal. That outlet reported the company said the increases were needed to cover the escalating costs of service. The settlement fares now on the table are lower than what was initially proposed, per the same WJAR report.
What the Settlement Would Allow A&R Marine to Collect
Under the proposed settlement, A&R Marine would be permitted to collect approximately $582,000 more in annual revenue, an increase of about 44% over current levels, the EastBayRI.com report notes. That figure reflects a $102,043 reduction from the company's original requested revenue increase. The agreement was reached October 28 between A&R Marine and the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, but it still needed sign-off from the full Public Utilities Commission, which was scheduled to consider it during a hearing Wednesday morning.
For residents who depend on the ferry for access to the mainland, the proposed increases could mean higher transportation costs for everyday travel, the outlet's reporting states. Prudence Island residents had a chance to weigh in before this week's commission hearing, voicing concerns about the proposal at recent meetings, including a public hearing held on the island on September 2.
Longtime Resident Warns Fares Must Stay Affordable
Bernard McKay, a longtime Prudence Island resident, said affordable ferry fares are necessary for people who rely on the boat, pointing to the ferry's role providing access to medical care on the mainland. His comments underscore what the proposed increases mean for an island community where the ferry isn't just a convenience but the only way on or off.
Commission Chairman Ronald Gerwatowski questioned why A&R Marine waited 10 years to seek a fare increase at all. Company vice president Daniel Antaya said fares remained unchanged for several reasons, including delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Antaya also said the company encountered a setback while working on a new rate study after losing its legal counsel during the process and having to find new representation, and indicated A&R Marine plans to take a more gradual approach to future rate increases.
How Block Island's Ferry Fares Compare
The Prudence Island case isn't happening in a vacuum. The commission separately and unanimously approved a 12% fare increase for Interstate Navigation's high-speed Block Island ferry, according to Rhode Island Current. That increase pushed the adult round-trip fare on the fast ferry from $50 to $56, with Interstate Navigation saying the hikes were needed to offset rising operational costs stemming partly from inflationary pressures.
Notably, those approved rate changes did not apply to Block Island's traditional 55-minute ferry, which is considered a lifeline service subject to a separate, more stringent review, per Rhode Island Current. Interstate Navigation and other ferry companies have reportedly been considering similar fare increases of their own, though no formal decision on that front has been made.
