NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — For kids, the cost is $0.50. Adults can hitch a ride starting at $1.50. The Balboa Island Ferry has been operated by the same family since 2019, but state air-quality rules could affect the ferry’s future.

The California Air Resources Board rule requires short-run ferries to go zero-emission by Dec. 31, 2025, a move to cut down on air pollution.

The Beek family says converting the diesel-powered fleet to zero-emission would be costly, and they're unsure whether it's even doable. A petition to support the ferry’s attempt to get an exemption from the rule has thousands of signatures.