Minnesott Beach News

The House Transportation Committee has again put off debating a bill that seeks alternatives to increasing ferry tolls and instead would allow for revenue-generating activities such as advertising on ferries.

Proposed new toll and toll increases on coastal ferry routes are unlikely to be implemented July 1 as originally planned, officials said Tuesday.

NCDOT Ferry Division is taking part in security exercise drills on Wednesday, involving its ferry terminals at Cherry Branch, Minnesott Beach, Pamlico River and Cedar Island.

It is the fourth piece of legislation introduced this session, but it is the first that did not oppose the upcoming increase and new tolls on the seven The ferry toll changes were first mandated by the 2011 General Assembly budget.

The movement against ferry tolls gained statewide momentum Thursday with the introduction of identical state House and Senate bills in the General Assembly that would eliminate tolls on all of the seven coastal routes.