BC Ferries has warned that fare increases are imminent as the service provider struggles to keep up with rising costs of operation amid growing demand.CEO Nicolas Jimenez said hikes of 30% would be necessary to simply keep afloat."Our forecast in 2023 was that an approximately 30% fare increase would be needed in 2028 to simply keep up and manage our operating and capital costs," he said in a statement, per Chek News. "Since that time, inflation and costs have increased even faster across many aspects of our business and we are facing a growing funding gap as demands on our system increase."Jimenez lamented that BC Ferries doesn't "bring in the revenue we need to cover our operating costs and all our capital needs," leading to service that has come short of "what our customers expect.""To ensure BC Ferries is able to make these necessary investments, we are looking to create a sustainable funding model that is critical for meeting the evolving needs of BC's communities and supporting the infrastructure that our residents, businesses, and visitors to BC rely on," he added, noting that he had spoken with Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth to bring the provincial government up to date on the situation.Premier David Eby, for his part, said his team would "work with BC Ferries" to "ensure that affordability is maintained for British Columbians," though he also made it clear that, "there is an onus and there is a responsibility on BC Ferries to do what they can to bring down their operating costs as well."On the service's busiest route, Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, it currently costs $19.10 one-way to walk on. Prices for a vehicle and one drive start at $86.50 one-way, but are higher during peak hours.
