Saturday, September 5, 2026
By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice on August 27, 2026
At their meeting on Sept. 1, the Dare County Commissioners are expected to approve a multi-county resolution asking Governor Josh Stein and NCDOT to waive all tolls and fees associated with NC ferry routes for locally registered vehicles.
The resolution—including Dare, Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, Currituck, Hyde, New Hanover, and Pamlico Counties—follows a mandate in the state budget imposing tolls on all North Carolina ferry routes. Of the seven North Carolina NCDOT ferry routes that carry cars, four are currently free, including Hatteras/Ocracoke and Knotts Island.
The plan to implement the new tolls by Jan. 1, 2027 has generated considerable opposition in the local communities. The Outer Banks Voice – Ocracoke Access Alliance seeks one-year delay for new ferry tolls
A letter to Governor Stein and the NC Transportation Secretary accompanying the resolution declares that the plans to “implement new tolls and increase existing ones create a severe and disproportionate hardship for our citizens. In eastern North Carolina, the ferry system is not a recreational luxury. It serves as our primary, and in some cases exclusive, network of highways and bridges.”
“While mainland residents enjoy free access to the state-maintained highways and bridges funded by our tax base, coastal residents face an unfair system of double taxation simply because of their geography,” the letter continued.
The resolution itself “strongly request[s] that all Tolls and Fees affecting North Carolina Ferry Routes be waived for all vehicles registered in counties with Ferry Terminals.”
In addition, it asks state leaders to “to create a permanent waiver exempting all locally registered personal and commercial vehicles from ferry tolls,” and requests “that any necessary state revenue adjustments focus strictly on non-resident, seasonal tourism traffic rather than penalizing local citizens.”
The Sept. 1 vote on the resolution coincides with the start of a series of NCDOT public meetings where residents can learn more about the tolling plan and voice their views and concerns.
Here is the full list of the dates and locations for those meetings, which will be held from 6-8 p.m.
- Sept. 1 – Beaufort County Community College, 5337 U.S. 264 East, Washington
- Sept. 2 – Pamlico Community College – Delamar Center, 5049 N.C. 306 South, Grantsboro
- Sept. 3 – Knotts Island Elementary School, 413 Woodleigh Road, Knotts Island
- Sept. 8 – Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, 59200 Museum Drive, Hatteras
- Sept. 9 – Ocracoke School, 120 Schoolhouse Road, Ocracoke
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Comments
Geoff
Hardship? Free ferry rides to second homes and vacation investment properties cause hardship? How absurd.
John
We have long had the luxury of free ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke at the expense of taxpayers who never visit the OBX. Take a look at the prices to live in Ocracoke. Do you really think the cost of an annual pass is a hardship? Just another case of an entitlement that the beneficiaries scream when they are expected to foot a small part of the bill.
profbraddock
Tolls “waived for all vehicles registered in counties with Ferry Terminals.” Sounds reasonable to me. However, what about all the commercial vehicles that have to go to/from Ocracoke? All goods and services would be impacted.
FreeFree
True Words @Geoff and @John.
Free. Free. Free. We demand everything for free. Are the actual Ferrys used by the state free? is the maintenance free? Insurance free? Fuel free? Ferry Employees work for Free?
Nothing in life is free.
Deane
For those who resent Outer Bankers and those who supply/service them enjoying “free” ferry service, would you be OK with mainlanders being charged tolls to use the taxpayer-funded mainland highways and bridges that you’ve been enjoying for “free” all these years? You’re not the only taxpayers in the state. Remember, Outerbankers pay taxes, as well. Considering that the Outer Banks brings in far more tax revenue than it consumes in ferry system and highway maintenance expenses, do you really want to further burden the goose that laid the golden egg? Moreover, those who enjoy that “free” ferry service are not just wealthy property owners. they’re also the worker bees, vendors, and crucial support folks who keep that significant income-producing cash cow alive and well. Don’t fall for that shortsighted, Marxist “tax the rich” pseudo solution.
Charles
As someone who lives on Hatteras Island, and no this is not my second home, there are many unanswered questions.
1- Would that $150 annual pass give me priority access ? Huge difference between driving right on or still waiting 2-3 hours. Right now no one on Hatteras has priority unless you are a vendor who pays for that service.
2- If I don’t get the pass, are we looking at $5 a car or $20 a car. Still undecided, and do I need to multiple by 2 for the round trip? This is a huge factor for anyone deciding to still go, especially for only a day.
3- For all of the revenue this will bring, how long until you actually see the effect ? I get mechanical issues texts every day on the Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry route. Are we talking 2030 until there is enough revenue for the improvements ? Doubtful there is much change in at least 2027 or even 2028.