Hyde commissioners oppose new and additional ferry tolls

Observer staff report

Hyde County commissioners on Monday night added their names to a resolution signed by seven other counties opposing the enactment of tolls on North Carolina free ferry routes and additional charges on those routes already tolled.

Hyde also submitted its own resolution against ferry tolls and both documents will be sent to the General Assembly, said Hyde County Manager Kris Cahoon Noble during the commissioners’ monthly meeting.

Before the end of their Easter recess last month, the North Carolina Senate approved a $32.6 billion state budget for the next two fiscal years that has been sent to the state House.

Both chambers are back in session and the House is expected to reject the Senate’s spending plan and propose their own version, but it is unknown if the House wants to impose tolls on the currently free ferries.

That will be known in the next several days, according to Legislative watchers.

If the two budgets are in disagreement, then a conference between the two chambers is set up to hammer out a budget to send to Gov. Josh Stein.

According to the Hyde resolution, the Senate has proposed a fee of $20 per vehicle less than 20 feet and $40 for a vehicle greater than 20 feet for the Hatteras ferry. Additionally, it includes doubling the toll on the Ocracoke-Swan Quarter route from the current $15 fee to $30.

In the meantime, the resolution points out several reasons why a toll on the Hatteras route would be unfair, particularly that the Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry route is currently the only toll-free route for residents, vendors and visitors to access Ocracoke Island.

“The imposition of tolls on routes that are currently free (and the increase in currently tolled routes) will constitute an unfair taxation burden and economic hardship on the residents and businesses of eastern North Carolina,” the resolution says.

Moreover, it points out that General Statute § 136-89.197 states that, vis-à-vis toll routes, “The Department shall maintain an existing, alternate, comparable non toll route corresponding to each Turnpike Project constructed pursuant to this Article. (2002-133, s. 1.)”

This ensures that all people can access a non-tolled route to their travel destination.

“Ocracoke is unique in the fact that there is no other way to access the island except by ferry and the Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry is now the only free option to access Ocracoke Island,” the resolution says. “Every person deserves a free route to travel home.”

For both resolutions in their entirety, see below.

Officials said that now is the time for Ocracoke residents to contact the House Transportation Committee members to voice their concerns and objections.

The Ocracoke Civic & Business Association has compiled a list of the members and their email addresses, also below.

For other information on each of the legislators, that can be found online at www.ncleg.net.