NC Ferry Division plans all-route toll recommendations

North Carolina’s Ferry Division is scheduled to present recommended toll rates and an implementation plan to the state Board of Transportation on Oct. 8, as a state law requires tolls on every ferry route by Jan. 1, 2027. The change would end free vehicle service on four routes: Cherry Branch–Minnesott Beach, Bayview–Aurora, Hatteras–Ocracoke and Currituck–Knotts Island; the board is expected to consider the rates and rate-setting method on Nov. 5. State law also calls for a $150 annual commuter pass for eligible coastal residents and active-duty military members, and directs toll revenue to vessel replacement rather than daily operating costs. The plan has drawn opposition from residents and local officials, who warn that tolls could impose financial hardship and affect communities that rely on ferries as essential transportation; proposals include waiving tolls for locally registered vehicles and delaying implementation.