Ferry toll meetings now to include Ocracoke

 Residents of Ocracoke Island will be able to attend a public hearing on proposed ferry toll hikes without having to get on a ferry.

The public hearing originally scheduled for Swan Quarter will now be in Ocracoke instead, according to Hyde County officials. The meeting is set for Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Ocracoke school gym.

"This is a huge issue that directly affects Ocracoke and we need to make sure all citizens are given a fair chance to comment,'' Hyde County Manager Mazie Smith said in statement. "This is their road."

The state Transportation Department has released a study looking at ways to raise $5 million annually by possibly raising rates on some ferry routes and adding tolls on others.

The DOT will hold public hearings this month on the four proposals involving potential toll increases on the Southport/Fort Fisher, Swan Quarter/Ocracoke and Cedar Island/Ocracoke routes. The study also proposes tolls on the Bayview/Aurora and Cherry Branch/Minnesott Beach routes. The Legislature ordered the agency to raise $5 million annually through tolls on all ferries except the Ocracoke/Hatteras and Knotts Island ferries.

Lawmakers said the new and increased tolls must be in effect by April 1. In addition to the Ocracoke public hearing, three others are planned. They are:

Thursday, Jan. 19, 7 p.m. Beaufort Community College 5337 U.S. 264 East, Washington

Monday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m. Morehead City-Beaufort, NC No. 1710 Elks Lodge 400 Miller Farm Rd., Morehead City

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m. I.L.A. Union Hall 211 West 10th Street, Southport