Title 47 — Title 47 PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION

Such ferry system, including any toll bridges, approaches, and roadways incidental thereto, may be financed and operated in combination or separately as one or more units as the department of transportation may determine, and such ferry system together with any toll bridge hereaf…

(1) The charter use of Washington State Ferry vessels when established route operations and normal user requirements are not disrupted is permissible. In establishing chartering agreements, Washington State Ferries shall consider the special needs of local communities and interes…

(1) The department is empowered to operate such ferry system, including all operations, whether intrastate or international, upon any route or routes, and toll bridges as a revenue-producing and self-liquidating undertaking. The department has full charge of the construction, reh…

(1) An "historic ferry" is any vessel in the Washington state ferries fleet which has been listed in the Washington state register of historic places.(2) When the department of transportation determines that an historic ferry is surplus to the needs of Washington state ferries, t…

Nothing in *RCW 47.60.150 forbids the establishment by the department of a Washington state ferries revolving fund of not to exceed six hundred thousand dollars from the proceeds of any bonds sold under the provisions of this chapter. The fund may be deposited by the department i…

Any consent to liability given under the provisions of this chapter creates liability of the department only and does not create any general liability of the state.[ 1984 c 7 s 314; 1961 c 13 s 47.60.200. Prior: 1951 c 259 s 5.]

The state consents to suits against the department by seamen for injuries occurring upon vessels of the department in accordance with the provisions of section 688, title 46, of the United States code. The venue of such actions may be in the superior court for Thurston county or …

The department has all the obligations, duties, and rights of a common carrier of persons and property in its operation of ferries, terminals, or other facilities used in its ferry operations, including the right to participate in joint rates and through routes, agreements, and d…

In case of property loss or damage or personal injuries or death resulting from the operation of any ferry or terminal by the department, any person or the personal representative of any person, subject to and to the extent hereinafter provided, has a right of action against the …

The right of action extended by this chapter is applicable to loss or damage of property and/or personal injury or death resulting from the operation of ferries or terminals by the department to persons other than shippers or passengers, but any recovery of damages in such cases …

As a condition to a recovery thereon, a verified claim against the department growing out of such damages, loss, injuries, or death must first be presented to the department and filed with the secretary within one hundred twenty days after the time when the claim accrued. If the …

The department may upon such terms and conditions as it may impose and under such rules as it may adopt, pay claims arising under its operation of ferries or terminals or compromise or settle the claims. No claim may be paid by the department or any settlement or compromise of it…

Actions for the recovery of damages under RCW 47.60.220 through 47.60.260 may be brought in Thurston county or in the county in which the aggrieved person resides. No execution upon a judgment or attachment may be levied against the property of the department, nor does the state …

Law enforcement officers of cities, towns, and counties which are served by state ferries shall have, and are hereby authorized to exercise, concurrent jurisdiction and authority with state law enforcement officers in the enforcement of laws of the state and local governmental di…

The department is authorized and directed to establish and operate a ferry service from a suitable point on Lummi Island in Whatcom county to a suitable point on Orcas Island in San Juan county by the most feasible route if and when Whatcom county constructs a bridge from Goosebe…

The department is authorized to operate a ferry service between Port Townsend and Keystone on Admiralty Inlet if the certificate of convenience and necessity for the ferry operation is theretofore surrendered, rights thereunder are abandoned, and the ferry service is discontinued…

The purpose of RCW 47.60.282 and 47.60.283 is to provide service on the ferry route between Port Townsend and Keystone to be determined by the department. Operation of this route is necessary for the economic health, safety, and welfare of the people of the state. Additionally, s…

(1) The commission shall, with the involvement of the department, conduct a survey to gather data on ferry users to help inform level of service, operational, pricing, planning, and investment decisions. The survey must include, but is not limited to:(a) Recreational use;(b) Walk…

(1) The department shall annually review fares and pricing policies applicable to the operation of the Washington state ferries.(2) Beginning in 2008, the department shall develop fare and pricing policy proposals that must:(a) Recognize that each travel shed is unique, and might…

The review shall include but not be limited to tariffs for automobiles, passengers, trucks, commutation rates, and volume discounts. The review shall give proper consideration to time of travel, distance of travel, operating costs, maintenance and repair expenses, and the resulta…

(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 represen…

(1) The commission shall adopt fares and pricing policies by rule, under chapter 34.05 RCW, according to the following schedule:(a) Each year the department shall provide the commission a report of its review of fares and pricing policies, with recommendations for the revision of…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6005-S.SL) ***(1) The capital vessel replacement account is created in the motor vehicle account [fund]. All revenues generated from the vessel replacement surcharges under RCW 47.60.315 (7) and (8), and service fees collected by the department of lice…

(1) The department shall develop, and the commission shall review, operational strategies to ensure that existing assets are fully utilized and to guide future investment decisions. These operational strategies must, at a minimum:(a) Recognize that each travel shed is unique and …

(1) Before a substantial change to the service levels provided to ferry users, the department shall consult with affected ferry users by public hearing and by review with the affected ferry advisory committees.(2) Before adding or eliminating a ferry route, the department shall c…

(1) Appropriations made for the Washington state ferries capital program may not be used for maintenance costs.(2) Appropriations made for preservation projects shall be spent only on preservation and only when warranted by asset condition, and shall not be spent on master plans,…

(1) The department shall develop and maintain a vessel maintenance and preservation program that meets or exceeds all federal requirements and, at a minimum:(a) Includes a bilge and void maintenance program;(b) Includes a visual inspection/audio gauging steel preservation program…

(1) The department shall maintain a life-cycle cost model on capital assets such that:(a) Available industry standards are used for estimating the life of an asset, and department-adopted standard life cycles derived from the experience of similar public and private entities are …

(1) Terminal and vessel preservation funding requests shall only be for assets in the life-cycle cost model.(2) Terminal and vessel preservation funding requests that exceed five million dollars per project must be accompanied by a predesign study. The predesign study must includ…

The department shall develop terminal and vessel design standards that:(1) Adhere to vehicle level of service standards as described in RCW 47.06.140;(2) Adhere to operational strategies as described in RCW 47.60.327; and(3) Choose the most efficient balance between capital and o…

(1) The capital plan must adhere to the following:(a) A current ridership demand forecast;(b) Vehicle level of service standards as described in RCW 47.06.140;(c) Operational strategies as described in RCW 47.60.327; and(d) Terminal and vessel design standards as described in RCW…

The department shall develop and maintain a vessel rebuild and replacement plan that, at a minimum:(1) Includes projected retirement dates for all vessels, distinguishing between active and inactive vessels;(2) Includes projected rebuild dates for all vessels;(3) Includes timelin…

(1) Terminal improvement, vessel improvement, and vessel acquisition project funding requests must adhere to the capital plan, include route-based planning, and be submitted with a predesign study that:(a) Includes all elements required by the office of financial management;(b) S…

(1) In addition to the requirements of RCW 47.60.385(1), initial requests for, and substantial modification requests to, vessel acquisition funding must be submitted with a predesign study that:(a) Includes a business decision case on vessel sizing;(b) Includes an updated vessel …

The Washington toll bridge authority is authorized to issue revenue bonds to refund all or any part of the authority's outstanding 1955 Washington state ferry system refunding revenue bonds and 1957 ferry and Hood Canal bridge revenue bonds. With respect to the issuing of such bo…

To the extent that all revenues from the Washington state ferry system available therefor are insufficient to provide for the payment of principal and interest on the bonds authorized and issued under RCW 47.60.400 through * 47.60.450 and for sinking fund requirements established…

So long as any bonds issued as authorized herein are outstanding, the state hereby agrees to continue to impose at least one-quarter cent of motor vehicle fuel tax and one-quarter cent of special fuel tax required by law and to deposit the proceeds of these taxes in the Puget Sou…

The Washington state ferry system shall be efficiently managed, operated, and maintained as a revenue-producing undertaking. Subject to the provisions of *RCW 47.60.326 the commission shall maintain and revise from time to time as necessary a schedule of tolls and charges on said…

(1) The legislature finds that the state's ferry fleet available for mass transportation of people within the urban region of Puget Sound is critically deficient and that substantial financial assistance for the acquisition of new ferries is necessary if the Washington state ferr…

There is hereby created in the motor vehicle fund the Puget Sound capital construction account. All moneys hereafter deposited in said account shall be used by the department of transportation for:(1) Reimbursing the motor vehicle fund for all transfers therefrom made in accordan…

(1) The Puget Sound ferry operations account is created in the motor vehicle account [fund].(2) The following funds must be deposited into the account:(a) All moneys directed by law;(b) All revenues generated from ferry fares; and(c) All revenues generated from commercial adverti…

(1) Whenever a county, city, or other municipal corporation acquires or constructs a facility to be used in whole or in part for off-street parking of motor vehicles which is in the immediate vicinity of an existing or planned ferry terminal, the department may enter into an agre…

In order to provide funds necessary for vessel acquisition, vessel construction, major and minor vessel improvements, and terminal construction and improvements for the Washington state ferries, there shall be issued and sold upon the request of the department general obligation …

The proceeds from the sale of the bonds shall be deposited in the Puget Sound capital construction account of the motor vehicle fund and such proceeds shall be available only for the purposes enumerated in RCW 47.60.560, for the payment of bond anticipation notes, if any, and for…

Bonds issued under the provisions of RCW 47.60.560 must distinctly state that they are a general obligation of the state of Washington, must pledge the full faith and credit of the state to the payment of the principal thereof and the interest thereon, and must contain an uncondi…

Any funds required to repay the bonds authorized by RCW 47.60.560 or the interest thereon when due shall be taken from that portion of the motor vehicle fund which results from the imposition of excise taxes on motor vehicle and special fuels and which is distributed to the state…

At least one year prior to the date any interest is due and payable on such bonds or before the maturity date of such bonds, the state finance committee shall estimate, subject to the provisions of RCW 47.60.590, the percentage of the receipts in money of the motor vehicle fund r…

Whenever the percentage of the motor vehicle fund arising from excise taxes on motor vehicle and special fuels payable into the bond retirement fund proves more than is required for the payment of interest on bonds when due, or current retirement of bonds, any excess may, in the …

Whenever, pursuant to RCW 47.60.600, the state treasurer shall transfer funds from the motor vehicle fund to the ferry bond retirement fund, the state treasurer shall at the same time reimburse the motor vehicle fund in an identical amount from the Puget Sound capital constructio…

The bonds authorized in RCW 47.60.560 through 47.60.640 shall constitute a legal investment for all state funds or for funds under state control and all funds of municipal corporations.[ 1977 ex.s. c 360 s 8.]Notes:Severability—1977 ex.s. c 360: See note following RCW 47.60.560.