Title 31, Highways, Roads, Bridges and Ferries

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise, “county court” includes board of county commissioners. FERRIES UNDER DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Whenever the Department of Transportation finds and determines that the operation of a ferry across any stream, river, bay, arm of the ocean or other body of water is necessary and convenient in connection with the use of any state highway, the department may acquire, construct, …

The Department of Transportation may itself, or under a cooperative agreement with any county, construct the necessary approaches, ramps, docks, wharves, ferry slips or other such appurtenances as are necessary for the maintenance and operation of a ferry mentioned in ORS 384.105…

In the acquisition, establishment, construction or operation of a ferry mentioned in ORS 384.105, the Department of Transportation and the county court of any county within which is located any stream, river, bay, arm of the ocean or other body of water over which it is contempla…

It is discretionary with the Department of Transportation whether a ferry mentioned in ORS 384.105 be operated by the state. If operated by the state and the county under a cooperative agreement, it is discretionary with the Department of Transportation and the county court wheth…

When a ferry mentioned in ORS 384.105 is acquired, constructed, operated and maintained by the Department of Transportation alone, the entire cost and expense may be paid out of the State Highway Fund. If the ferry has been acquired, constructed and is being operated and maintain…

(1) The Department of Transportation may fix, alter and establish from time to time the rate of ferriage to be levied and collected, and may, in its judgment, whenever circumstances warrant and require, alter or change any such rate. (2) Whenever the Department of Transportation …

Every person licensed to keep and operate a ferry as provided in ORS 384.105 shall post in some conspicuous place near the ferry landing a written or printed list of the rates of ferriage which are chargeable under the orders of the Department of Transportation. The list of rates…

Persons licensed by the Department of Transportation to maintain and operate a ferry under ORS 384.105 to 384.150 shall be required to furnish a bond or an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an insured institution as defined in ORS 706.008 in such amount as the department req…

(1) If any keeper or operator of a ferry at any time demands and receives more than the amount designated for ferrying or fails to keep or perform the conditions of the license or contract, the Department of Transportation may revoke the license or permit and may require the keep…

Any ferry operated and maintained as provided in ORS 384.105 to 384.145 is part of the state highway system.

The state acting by and through the Department of Transportation, and any county, city, town or port of the State of Oregon adjoining or bordering on any interstate river or stream of water, is each and every one authorized to: (1) Establish, maintain and operate ferry service in…

In carrying out the provisions of ORS 384.305 to 384.360, the Department of Transportation, and each of the counties, cities, towns or ports mentioned in ORS 384.305, may act independent of or in conjunction with each other upon the terms and conditions agreed upon by the contrac…

For the purpose of carrying out or putting into effect any right, power and authority granted by ORS 384.305 to 384.360 or any other law, the Department of Transportation, and each and all of the public bodies or agencies mentioned in ORS 384.305, may make and enter into agreemen…

The Department of Transportation, and any county, city, town or port mentioned in ORS 384.305, may pay out of its respective funds, or any other funds to any of them available, all or any part of the cost of the construction, maintenance and operation of the ferry service.

The construction, purchase, maintenance and operation of any ferry service under ORS 384.305 to 384.360 may be financed in whole or in part by loans obtained from the United States Government or any of its agencies, or from any other sources. As security for the payment of such l…

For the purpose of procuring funds, when necessary, with which to construct, maintain and operate the ferry service, the authority constructing, maintaining and operating the service may issue and sell revenue certificates, which shall not be the general obligation of the authori…

The Department of Transportation, and every other public body and agency mentioned in ORS 384.305 may: (1) Accept from the United States or any of its agencies, such funds as are available to this state or to any such public body or agency, for any of the purposes contemplated by…

The Department of Transportation, and any county, city, town or port mentioned in ORS 384.305 to 384.360, may exercise the power of eminent domain to carry out any of the provisions of ORS 384.305 to 384.360, in accordance with the procedure provided in ORS chapter 35. [Amended b…

Any ferry constructed, purchased or otherwise acquired and operated under ORS 384.305 to 384.360 may be operated free to the public or on toll. If operated on toll, the revenues derived therefrom may be pledged as provided in ORS 384.305 to 384.360.

If any ferry constructed, maintained and operated under ORS 384.305 to 384.360 is needed by the United States for any purpose in connection with national defense, then the authority which constructed and is maintaining and operating the ferry may sell it to the United States or m…

Any ferry service maintained and operated under ORS 384.305 to 384.360 shall connect, or provision shall be made for such connection, with a state and federal highway in this state and a state and federal highway in the adjoining state to which the ferry service is maintained. Su…

The authority conferred by ORS 384.305 to 384.355 is in addition and supplemental to the authority conferred by any other law.

Whenever the county court of any county determines that the construction or maintenance of a ferry in a state adjoining such county or connecting the county with the adjoining state, where there is then no ferry licensed and maintained, is a necessity or convenience to the citize…

The Department of Transportation, in the name of this state, if and when it appears to the department to be for the best interest of this state and the citizens thereof, may enter into a written agreement with the State of Washington, by and through its Director of Highways or ot…

No ferry service shall be established or maintained under ORS 384.405 to 384.440 unless it connects a state and federal highway in the State of Oregon with a state and federal highway in the State of Washington.

For the purpose of carrying out the objects of ORS 384.405 to 384.440 the Department of Transportation, acting jointly with the State of Washington, may: (1) Purchase, acquire and operate ferries between such places; or (2) Lease, rent or hire and operate ferries; or (3) Contract…

This state shall not be obligated to pay, nor shall it pay for such ferry service, whether furnished by the facilities owned, acquired or operated by the state jointly or under contract with others, any sum in excess of 50 percent of the total cost of the service. The Department …

Any ferry operated under ORS 384.405 to 384.440 and the approach roads thereto on the Oregon side of the Columbia River are a part of the state highway system and shall be so declared and designated by an appropriate resolution entered in the minutes of the Department of Transpor…

(1) The Department of Transportation shall, jointly with the proper officials of the State of Washington, for the protection of the general public and for the safeguarding of the interests of the State of Oregon, its officers, agents and employees, prescribe all necessary rules a…

The Department of Transportation may, for the use and benefit of the state, its officers, agents or employees and of the general public, carry public liability insurance if ferries mentioned in ORS 384.405 are owned and operated by the state. The department shall require such pub…

Any ferry operated under ORS 384.405 to 384.440 may be operated free of tolls.

(1) The County Court of Umatilla County, Oregon, and the Department of Transportation, in cooperation, may enter into such agreement, as in their judgment is advisable, with the County Court of Benton County, Washington, and the Director of Highways of the State of Washington, fo…