It now costs more to travel between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland after BC Ferries increased fares by an average of 7.3 per cent on its three major routes Tuesday.
A one-way trip on any of the major routes, including Tswassen to Swartz Bay, Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, or Tswassen to Duke Point, costs $43 for one vehicle plus $13 for each passenger seven days a week.
The new fares are up from $38.85 per vehicle plus $11.80 for each additional passenger.
Fares on other routes will go up an average of 4 per cent.
For example, a one-way fare from Swartz Bay to any of the Gulf Islands will increase to $27.75 plus $9 for each passenger on any day of the week, up from $26.55 per vehicle plus $8.65 for each additional passenger.
The overall fare increase to cross the Straight of Georgia since 2003 amounts to a whopping 25 per cent.
BC Ferries blames the rate increase on rising fuel costs as well as higher operating expenses.
