The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "City" means an incorporated city or town.

(2) "City council" means the legislative body of any city or town.

(3) "Component city" means an incorporated city or town within a public transportation benefit area.

(4) "County legislative authority" means the board of county commissioners or the county council.

(5) "Population" means the number of residents as shown by the figures released for the most recent official state, federal, or county census, or population determination made by the office of financial management.

(6) "Proof of payment" means evidence of fare prepayment authorized by a public transportation benefit area for the use of buses or other modes of public transportation.

(7) "Public transportation benefit area" means a municipal corporation of the state of Washington created pursuant to this chapter.

(8) "Public transportation benefit area authority" or "authority" means the legislative body of a public transportation benefit area.

(9) "Public transportation improvement conference" or "conference" means the body established pursuant to RCW 36.57A.020 which shall be authorized to establish, subject to the provisions of RCW 36.57A.030, a public transportation benefit area pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(10) "Public transportation service" means the transportation of packages, passengers, and their incidental baggage by means other than by chartered bus, sight-seeing bus, together with the necessary passenger terminals and parking facilities or other properties necessary for passenger and vehicular access to and from such people moving systems: PROVIDED, That nothing shall prohibit an authority from leasing its buses to private certified carriers or prohibit the authority from providing school bus service. "Public transportation service" includes passenger-only ferry service for those public transportation benefit areas eligible to provide passenger-only ferry service under RCW 36.57A.200.

Alphabetization—2008 c 123: See note following RCW 35.58.020.

Findings—Intent—Captions, part headings not law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 83: See notes following RCW 36.57A.200.

Severability—Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 270: See notes following RCW 35.58.272.

Population determinations, office of financial management: Chapter 43.62 RCW.