Brief Description: Expanding considerations in setting ferry fares.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Rockefeller, Oke, Regala, Spanel, Sheldon, Shin, Poulsen, Jacobsen and Kohl-Welles).

Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation

Background: The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) must annually conduct a full review of the ferry fares schedule. In odd-numbered years the WSDOT must submit a report of this review along with their recommendations for fare schedule revisions to the Transportation Commission (Commission). In odd-numbered years, the Commission must adopt, by rule, a fare schedule for the ensuing biennium. There are several factors WSDOT may consider in formulating fare schedule revisions and the Commission may consider in adopting a fare schedule.

Summary: The following two factors that WSDOT and the Commission may consider in formulating and adopting fare schedules are added: (1) the pre-purchase of multiple fares, whether for a single rider or multiple riders; and (2) frequent ferry users who live in ferry dependent communities.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      49   0
House      98   0

Effective: July 24, 2005