Juneau-bound residents won’t have to pay an extra fee for going through Skagway on a Wednesday ferry that travels only northbound through Haines. Residents charged the extra fee are eligible for a refund.

Department of Transportation spokesman Roger Wetherell blamed the extra charge on a "communication mix-up" that resulted in a rule that some ferry employees were following to charge the extra instead of a through-fare.

The additional fee did not serve passengers or the marine highway and terminal employees were informed by Nov. 29 not to charge it, Wetherell said.

The additional fee would apply if Haines passengers got off at Skagway and took a later boat to Juneau, he said. The marine highway will honor refund requests from passengers who were charged the fee retroactive to Oct. 1, 2007, Wetherell said.

Refunds are available at ferry terminals or through central reservations, he said.