Members of the Washington State Transportation Commission last week approved a fare hike proposal for the ferry system set to go into effect this fall.

The decision comes after the commission hosted public meetings in four of the state’s ferry-served communities last month to discuss the proposal presented in May. However, opinions heard at the meetings were unlikely to change the fact that fares would rise. The state Legislature has mandated that Washington State Ferries come up with an additional $8.4 million in revenue for day-to-day operations from 2017-19.

“There’s not really much that’s going be decided (after the meeting). They have to do it (raise fares),” islander Greg Beardsley, head of the Ferry Advisory Committee – Tariff said last month.

On Oct. 1, fares will rise 2.9 percent for small- and standard-sized vehicles and 0.8 to 1.8 percent for oversized vehicles depending on their length.Fares for passengers will go up 2.1 percent.

Fares will rise again in October 2018: An additional 2.5 percent for small- and standard-sized vehicles and an additional 2.1 percent for passengers.