FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5159

                                  C 368 L 87

BYSenator DeJarnatt

Revising the reimbursement formula for the Puget Island-Westport ferry.

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committe on Transportation

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Wahkiakum County owns and operates a ferry between Puget Island and Westport, Oregon.  This system provides the only crossing of the Columbia River between the Astoria-Megler bridge and the Longview bridge.

This ferry service is beneficial to the state highway system by providing a bypass for State Route 4; the Department of Transportation is authorized to reimburse Wahkiakum County for 60 percent of any deficit incurred during the previous fiscal year.

SUMMARY:

Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1987, the Department of Transportation is to reimburse Wahkiakum County for 80 percent of any operating and maintenance deficit.  Fares established by Wahkiakum County for the Puget Island ferry are required to be comparable to the fares for similar state ferry system routes.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    40     5

      House 93   3 (House amended)

      Senate             (Senate refused to concur)

      House              (House refused to recede)

      Senate    41     7 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 1, 1987