S-729                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5159

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senator DeJarnatt

Read first time 1/16/87 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to the Puget Island-Westport ferry; amending RCW 47.56.720; declaring an emergency; and providing an effective date.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 254, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. as last amended by section 285, chapter 7, Laws of 1984 and RCW 47.56.720 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1)  The legislature finds that the ferry operated by Wahkiakum county between Puget Island and Westport on the Columbia river provides service which is primarily local in nature with secondary benefits to the state highway system in providing a bypass for state route 4 and providing the only crossing of the Columbia river between the Astoria-Megler bridge and the Longview bridge.

          (2)  The department is hereby authorized to enter into a continuing agreement with Wahkiakum county pursuant to which the department shall pay to Wahkiakum county from moneys appropriated for such purpose the sum of one thousand dollars per month to be used in the operation and maintenance of the Puget Island ferry, commencing July 1, 1971.

          Subject to the provisions of subsection (4) of this section, the department is authorized to include in the continuing agreement a provision to reimburse Wahkiakum county for ((sixty)) eighty percent of the deficit incurred during each previous fiscal year in the operation and maintenance of the ferry, commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, ((1972)) 1987.  The state's ((sixty)) eighty percent share of the annual operating and maintenance deficit shall include the one thousand dollars per month authorized in this subsection.

          (3)  The annual deficit, if any, incurred in the operation and maintenance of the ferry shall be determined by Wahkiakum county subject to the approval of the department.  If ((sixty)) eighty percent of the deficit for the preceding fiscal year exceeds the total amount paid to the county for that year, the additional amount shall be paid to the county by the department upon the receipt of a properly executed voucher:  PROVIDED, That the total of all payments to the county in any biennium shall not exceed the amount appropriated for that biennium.

          (4)  Whenever, subsequent to June 9, 1977, state route 4 between Cathlamet and Longview is closed to traffic pursuant to chapter 47.48 RCW due to actual or potential slide conditions and there is no suitable, reasonably short alternate state route provided, Wahkiakum county is authorized to operate the Puget Island ferry on a toll-free basis during the entire period of such closure.  The state's share of the ferry operations and maintenance deficit during such period shall be one hundred percent.

          (5)  Whenever state route 4 between Cathlamet and Longview is closed to traffic, as mentioned in subsection (4) hereof, the state of Washington shall provide temporary rest room facilities at the Washington ferry landing terminal.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1987.