Brief Description: Addressing the provision of ferry service by port districts.

Sponsors: By Representatives Rolfes, Appleton and Hudgins.

House Committee on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

In 2006 the Washington State Department of Transportation was directed to establish a ferry grant program to provide operating or capital grants for passenger-only ferries (POF) operated by counties, county ferry districts, and public transportation benefit districts. At the same time, the Washington State Ferries (WSF) were required to collaborate with counties, county ferry districts, and public transportation benefit districts offering POF service for terminal operations at the WSF's existing terminals.

Port districts may acquire, lease, construct, purchase, maintain, and operate passenger-carrying vessels on interstate navigable rivers of Washington and intrastate waters of adjoining states.

Summary:

The area in which port districts may offer ferry service is expanded to include the Puget Sound.

The types of entities eligible to receive grants for operating and capital expenditures from the ferry grant program are expanded to include POF systems operated by port districts.

Port districts are added to the list of POF service providers with which the WSF system must collaborate for terminal operations.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0
Senate   41   6

Effective: June 12, 2008