Title: An act relating to ferry fares.

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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/24/05, 3/2/05 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/12/05, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5729 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Eide, Esser, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Spanel and Weinstein.

Staff: Janice Baumgardt (786-7319)

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 of Bill: 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.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Frequent ferry users, not only daily commuters, should continue to receive discounted fares as they have in the past.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Phil Rockefeller, prime sponsor.