Tom Pahl: How about a bridge fee instead of ferry fee?

Regarding the April 16 news article “Bill proposes priority boarding”: I note that the Senate Transportation Committee chairman, Sen. Bill Rabon, represents a district that includes a large section of Coastal Carolina, including the island communities of Wrightsville Beach, Figure Eight Island and Topsail Beach.

I would suggest to him that he consider, in fairness, sponsoring a bill that would impose an annual fee of $150 on the residents in his district who live on those islands for the privilege of crossing the bridges that connect them to the mainland.

The ferries to Ocracoke are a part of the N.C. DOT infrastructure, just like those critical bridges in the senator’s district are. Why would he pick out our island for special treatment? Because he has a wealthy “friend” who wants a favor?

This stinks, and I hope the rest of the legislature gets a whiff of it before it signs on.

This story was originally published April 18, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Tom Pahl: How about a bridge fee instead of ferry fee?."