From a Jan. 13 editorial in the (Raleigh) News & Observer:

Day in and day out, in all kinds of weather, ferries ply our state's shallow sounds and broad coastal rivers. For most folks in the Triangle, a ferry ride is a foretaste of an Outer Banks vacation, but for Eastern North Carolina residents, a pair of the ferry crossings can function as bridges on the way to work.

Soon, unfortunately, they'll be toll bridges.

The free ferries across the Pamlico and Neuse rivers are commuter routes for locals who live on one side of these wide rivers and work on the other. Other than relocating, the locals' only option is to drive an extra 30 miles or more.

These two ferries have long been free, but that's about to change. Last year's legislature cut spending but also sought new money, and the ferry system, run as a division of the Department of Transportation, was a revenue-raising target.

Pending a series of hearings, fares are likely to rise on routes that have fees, such as the cross-sound runs to Ocracoke from Swan Quarter and Cedar Island. And those who use the two river crossings will have to start shelling out.

There's a good case to be made for the fare increases to Ocracoke, but charging those who commute across the rivers is a raw deal. If tolls must be imposed, the state should make regular users' burden as light as possible.

Overall, our ferry system is a bargain for passengers. It's one of the biggest systems run by any state and its rates are definitely on the low side. That's why the vacation-oriented routes are, indeed, fair game for fare hikes (the current charge is $15, one way, per passenger vehicle). For the river crossings, a consultant is suggesting one-way fees of $4 to $12, with commuter passes that might go for $150 or $200 a year. Considering that bridges in North Carolina are free, that's a stretch - so a steep discount for commuters is essential.