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                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 537

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State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Schmidt, Zellinsky, Brough, Sayan, Schoon, Meyers, May, P. King and Pruitt

Read first time 1/30/87 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to the Washington state ferries; and amending RCW 47.60.310 and 47.60.330.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 47.60.310, chapter 13, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 24, chapter 15, Laws of 1983 and RCW 47.60.310 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The department is further directed to conduct such review by soliciting and obtaining expressions from local community groups in order to be properly informed as to problems being experienced within the area served by the Washington state ferries.  In order that local representation may be established, the department shall give prior notice of the review to the legislative authority of Clallam, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish counties.

          (2) ((Each such county legislative authority)) The governor shall appoint a committee to consist of ((five)) three members for each terminal area who are representative of users of the ferry terminals at Anacortes, Bremerton, Edmonds, Kingston, Mukilteo, Port Townsend, Seattle, Southworth, Vashon Island, Whidbey Island, and Winslow.  The governor shall also appoint five members to represent the San Juan Islands as follows:  One member from Lopez Island, one member from Shaw Island, one member from Orcas Island, one member from San Juan Island, and one member at large from the San Juan Islands.  The committee shall report periodically to the governor and the department of transportation on current provisions in the law plus specific recommendations by route.  The representatives from each terminal area shall constitute a subcommittee to serve as an advisory ((committee)) subcommittee to the department or its designated representative in ((such)) reviews under subsection (1) of this section.

          (3) The members of ((each county)) the ferry advisory committee shall be appointed for four-year terms.  The initial terms shall commence on July 1, ((1982)) 1986, and end on June 30, ((1986)) 1990.  Any vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the ((appointing authority)) governor.  ((At least one person appointed to each advisory committee shall be representative of an established ferry-user group or of frequent users of the ferry system, at least one shall be representative of persons or firms using or depending upon the ferry system for commerce, and one member shall be representative of a local government transportation planning body or its staff.  Every member shall be a resident of the county upon whose advisory committee he or she sits, and not more than three members shall at the time of their appointment be members of the same major political party.))

          (4) The committee((s)) to be appointed by the ((county legislative authorities)) governor shall serve without fee or compensation.

        Sec. 2.  Section 26, chapter 15, Laws of 1983 and RCW 47.60.330 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Before a substantial expansion or curtailment in the level of service provided to ferry users, or a revision in the schedule of ferry tolls or charges, the department of transportation shall consult with affected ferry users.  The consultation shall be:  (a) By public hearing in affected local communities; (b) by review with the affected ferry advisory ((committees)) subcommittee pursuant to RCW 47.60.310; (c) by conducting a survey of affected ferry users; or (d) by any combination of (a) through (c).

          (2) There is created a ferry system productivity council consisting of ((a)) one representative of each ferry advisory ((committee)) subcommittee empanelled under RCW 47.60.310, elected by the members thereof, and two representatives of employees of the ferry system appointed by mutual agreement of all of the unions representing ferry employees, which shall meet from time to time with ferry system management to discuss means of improving ferry system productivity.

          (3) Before increasing ferry tolls the department of transportation shall consider all possible cost reductions with full public participation as provided in subsection (1) of this section and, consistent with public policy, shall consider adapting service levels equitably on a route-by-route basis to reflect trends in and forecasts of traffic usage.  Forecasts of traffic levels shall be developed by the bond covenant traffic engineering firm appointed under the provisions of RCW 47.60.450.  Provisions of this section shall not alter obligations under RCW 47.60.450.  Before including any toll increase in a budget proposal by the commission, the department of transportation shall consult with affected ferry users in the manner prescribed in (1)(b) of this section plus the procedure of either (1) (a) or (c) of this section.