The Ocracoke Observer devotes considerable coverage to the island’s ferry system. Some readers may even think we have covered the subject excessively.
The ferries are the island’s lifeline, and as teh N.C. General Assembly decides the island’s future, this is a developing story. Right now, there are more questions than answers.
The decisions being made could have profound consequences for Ocracoke and the people who live here.
With the ferry legislation now approved as part of the state budget, North Carolina law directed the N.C. Department of Transportation to establish and begin collecting tolls on all ferry routes by Jan. 1, 2027, and the Ferry Division came up with a proposal it gave to the NDDOT Board of Transportation.
Right now, Ocracoke residents can purchase an annual $150 fee for ferry transportation on the tolled routes. That same fee will apply Jan. 1 to residents using any other route, including Hatteras.
But the tolls themselves are not islanders’ most significant concern. For many Ocracoke residents, the potential loss of the priority pass is far more troubling.
That pass is not simply a convenience. It can be essential for people who must leave the island for specialized medical care, appointments, employment, family obligations and other necessities.
When your home is accessible only by boat, being able to get on and off the island in a timely and predictable manner is fundamentally different from dealing with traffic congestion on a mainland highway.
At a recent public meeting, one resident put the issue bluntly: If the priority pass is eliminated, he said, he would move off the island.
That should get everyone’s attention.
We are not exaggerating when we say that changes to the ferry system could have a devastating effect on the Ocracoke community.
The ferry is our “maritime” road, our connection to health care, our connection to jobs, schools, families and the rest of the state.
And yet, despite what is being said on social media and in some public discussions, the elimination of the priority pass is not a done deal.
That distinction is important. There is still an opportunity for residents to make their voices heard before decisions are finalized.
We strongly encourage Ocracoke residents to use that opportunity: Contact members of the North Carolina General Assembly. Contact the governor. Contact our members of Congress. Contact members of the N.C. Board of Transportation. Write letters to newspapers.
Explain in your own words how changes to the ferry system would affect you, your family and this community.
Legislators say that email is fine, but don’t send the same thing in a bulk email.
A personal story can make an impact that a petition or copied-and-pasted message cannot. Tell legislators about the medical appointments you cannot miss, the family members you need to visit, the job that depends on reliable transportation, or what the ferry means to your ability to remain on Ocracoke.
This is not a time for complacency.
Ocracoke residents have successfully advocated for this community many times before. But protecting the island’s access to the mainland will require that we speak up again—and that we do so clearly, respectfully and persistently.
The future of Ocracoke’s ferry system is still being determined.
Now is the time to make sure Ocracoke has a voice in that decision.
