PRUDENCE ISLAND — The Prudence Island Planning Commission (PIPC) is hosting an informational meeting on Saturday, Jan. 23, regarding the ferry rate fare increase proposed by A&R Marine Corp.

The meeting will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hope Brown Center at Farnham Farm, 113 Pleasant Ave., Prudence Island.

Although plans have not yet been finalized, it’s expected that a representative from both A&R and the Town Council will be in attendance. At the forum, residents can ask questions of, or pass comments to, A&R Marine, while also allowing the Town Council firsthand feedback on residents’ sentiments on the proposed increase.

The council is formally registered with the R.I. Public Utilities Commission (PUC) as an “intervener,” representing the residents before the commission, as is resident Michael Sheehan.

People who cannot attend the meeting in person will have an opportunity to dial in via a teleconference bridge. For audio/telephone access only, you may use 800/420-0272, PIN 268736. (If prompted for your “meeting number” after entering the PIN, enter “123.”)

There will also be a WebEx Meeting link that will establish an audio connection and a chat window wherein users may type questions rather than using the phone/audio.

Ed “Hap” Aldrich, PIPC chairman, notes that the teleconference process is untried. “The meeting room logistics at the Hope Brown Center may or may not prove adequate for this task. We will make every effort to extend this meeting live to those unable to attend in person, but there is no guarantee that this process will prove successful,” he stated in an e-mail message.

A&R Marine Corp., doing business as Prudence & Bay Islands Transport, recently proposed across-the-board rate hikes that would roughly double the current fares for all but those who live on Prudence for at least nine months of the year.

Under A&R’s rate filing proposal to the R.I. Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the cost of a one-way trip for adults between Bristol and Prudence and Hog islands would increase from the current $2.85 to $5.90. For children between 5 and 12, the one-way fee would jump from $1 to $2.05.

For (non-junk) passenger cars with drivers, the one-way tickets would increase from the current $15.50 to $32.85.

The proposed rate for residents who live on the island at least nine months out of the year was set at $2.85, which is the current one-way single fare adult rate.

For cars, the proposed islander resident rate was set at $15.50, the same as the current rate.

PUC hearing Feb. 4

On Thursday, Feb. 4, the PUC is scheduled to travel to Prudence Island for a public comment hearing on the proposed rate increase. That meeting begins at 11 a.m. and will also be held at the Hope Brown Center.

A&R took over as the new ferry provider in September 2014, when Prudence Ferry Inc. ceased operations between Bristol and Prudence.