BILL REQ. #:  S-5125.1 

Read first time 02/06/08.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to ferry vessel and terminal planning; amending RCW 47.60.375 and 47.60.345; and adding new sections to chapter 47.60 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:
     The department shall develop and maintain a vessel rebuild and replacement plan that, at a minimum:
     (1) Includes projected retirement dates for all vessels, distinguishing between active and inactive vessels;
     (2) Includes projected rebuild dates for all vessels;
     (3) Includes timelines for vessel replacement, including business decisions, design, procurement, and construction; and
     (4) Includes a summary of the condition of all vessels, distinguishing between active and inactive vessels.

Sec. 2   RCW 47.60.375 and 2007 c 512 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The capital plan must adhere to the following:
     (((1))) (a) A current ridership demand forecast;
     (((2))) (b) Vehicle level of service standards as described in RCW 47.06.140;
     (((3))) (c) Operational strategies as described in RCW 47.60.327; and
     (((4))) (d) Terminal design standards as described in RCW 47.60.365.
     (2) The capital plan must include the following:
     (a) A current vessel preservation plan;
     (b) A current systemwide vessel rebuild and replacement plan;
     (c) A current vessel deployment plan; and
     (d) A current terminal preservation plan.

Sec. 3   RCW 47.60.345 and 2007 c 512 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall maintain a life-cycle cost model on capital assets such that:
     (a) Available industry standards are used for estimating the life of an asset, and department-adopted standard life cycles derived from the experience of similar public and private entities are used when industry standards are not available;
     (b) Standard estimated life is adjusted for asset condition when inspections are made;
     (c) It does not include utilities or other systems that are not replaced on a standard life cycle; and
     (d) It does not include assets not yet built.
     (2) All assets in the life-cycle cost model must be inspected and updated in the life-cycle cost model for asset condition at least every three years.
     (3) The life-cycle cost model shall be used when estimating future ((system)) terminal and vessel preservation needs.
     (4) The life-cycle cost model shall be the basis for developing the budget request for terminal and vessel preservation funding.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall develop and maintain a vessel maintenance and preservation program that meets or exceeds all federal requirements and, at a minimum:
     (a) Includes a bilge and void maintenance program;
     (b) Includes a visual inspection/audio gauging steel preservation program; and
     (c) Uses a lowest life-cycle cost method.
     (2) The vessel maintenance and preservation program must maximize cost efficiency by, at a minimum:
     (a) Reducing planned out-of-service time to the greatest extent possible; and
     (b) Striving to eliminate planned peak season out-of-service periods.
     (3) When construction is underway for the replacement of a vessel, the vessel that is scheduled for retirement is exempt from the requirement in subsection (1)(c) of this section.
     (4) The department shall include a plain language status report on the maintenance and preservation vessel program with each budget submittal to the office of financial management. This report must include, at a minimum:
     (a) A description of the maintenance and preservation of each vessel in the fleet;
     (b) A highlight and explanation of any significant deviation from the norm;
     (c) A highlight and explanation of any significant deviation from the vessel preservation plan required under RCW 47.60.375;
     (d) A highlight and explanation of decisions not to invest in vessels; and
     (e) A highlight and explanation of decisions to invest early in vessels.