Title 47 — Title 47 PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION

Bonds issued under authority of RCW 47.60.560 through 47.60.640 and any subsequent general obligation bonds of the state of Washington which may be authorized and which pledge motor vehicle and special fuel excise taxes for the payment of principal and interest thereon shall be a…

The department of transportation may enter into contracts with public transportation benefit areas meeting the requirements of RCW 36.57A.200 or county ferry districts to convey passenger-only ferry vessels and other properties associated with passenger-only ferry service that se…

The Washington state ferry system shall collaborate with new and potential passenger-only ferry service providers, as described in chapters 36.54, 36.57A, and 53.08 RCW, for terminal operations at its existing terminal facilities.[ 2008 c 45 s 3; 2007 c 223 s 3; 2006 c 332 s 5.]N…

No contract for the construction, improvement, or repair of a ferry, ferry terminal, or other facility operated by the Washington state ferries or for the repair, overhaul, or the dry-docking of any ferry operated by Washington state ferries may be awarded to any contractor who h…

The secretary of transportation shall adopt rules prescribing standards and criteria to assure that each ferry system construction and repair contract described in RCW 47.60.680 shall be awarded to a competent and responsible contractor who has all of the following qualifications…

Any contractor desiring to submit bids or proposals for ferry system construction or repair contracts as described in RCW 47.60.680 shall file an application for prequalification with the department. The application shall be on a standard form supplied by the department. The form…

Upon request by the department an applicant for prequalification shall authorize the department to obtain any information pertinent to the application, including information relating to the applicant's net worth, assets, and liabilities, from banks or other financial institutions…

Upon receipt of an application by a contractor for prequalification to perform ferry system construction and repair contracts, the department shall conduct such additional investigation as it deems necessary. If it finds that the applicant is qualified in accordance with the rule…

A contractor may apply annually for renewal of its prequalification by submission of a new or supplemental questionnaire and financial statement on standard forms provided by the department. Based upon information received at the time of renewal or at any other time the departmen…

If the department finds, after the opening of bids, that facts exist that would disqualify the lowest bidder, or that the lowest bidder is not competent or responsible in accordance with the standards and criteria for prequalifying contractors, the department shall reject the bid…

The action of the department in refusing, modifying, or revoking the prequalification of any contractor under RCW 47.60.680 through 47.60.740 is conclusive unless an appeal is filed with the Thurston county superior court within ten days after receiving written notice of the refu…

The department of transportation shall not be required to make available for public inspection and copying financial information supplied by any person, firm, or corporation for the purpose of qualifying to submit a bid or proposal for a ferry system construction or repair contra…

In order to provide funds necessary for vessel and terminal acquisition, construction, and major and minor improvements, including long lead time materials acquisition for the Washington state ferries, there shall be issued and sold upon the request of the Washington state transp…

(1) Upon request being made by the transportation commission, the state finance committee shall supervise and provide for the issuance, sale, and retirement of the bonds authorized by RCW 47.60.800 through 47.60.808 in accordance with chapter 39.42 RCW. The bonds may be sold from…

The proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by RCW 47.60.800 through 47.60.808 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 under RCW 47.60.800, for the payment of bond a…

Bonds issued under the authority of RCW 47.60.800 through 47.60.808 shall distinctly state that they are a general obligation of the state of Washington, shall pledge the full faith and credit of the state to the payment of the principal thereof and the interest thereon, and shal…

Both principal and interest on the bonds issued for the purposes of RCW 47.60.800 through 47.60.808 shall be payable from the ferry bond retirement fund authorized in RCW 47.60.600. Whenever, pursuant to RCW 47.60.800 and 47.60.806, the state treasurer transfers funds from the mo…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 47.60.826, the department shall use a modified request for proposals process when purchasing new auto ferries, except for new 144-auto ferries purchased through an option on a contract executed before July 6, 2015, whereby the prevailing sh…

To commence the request for proposals process, the department shall publish a notice of its intent once a week for at least two consecutive weeks in at least one trade paper and one other paper, both of general circulation in the state. The notice must contain, but is not limited…

(1) Subject to legislative appropriation for the procurement of vessels, the department shall issue a request for proposals to interested parties that must include, at least, the following:(a) Solicitation of a proposal to participate in a design and build partnership with the de…

(1) The Washington state institute for public policy must conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the state's ferry vessel procurement practices. This analysis must (a) compare in-state construction to construction at shipyards across the United States, (b) identify barriers to receiv…

Phase one of the request for proposals process consists of evaluation and selection of prequalified proposers to participate in subsequent development of technical proposals in phase two, as follows:(1) The department shall issue a request for proposals to interested parties.(2) …

Phase two of the request for proposals process consists of preparation of technical proposals in consultation with the department, as follows:(1) The development of technical proposals in compliance with the detailed instructions provided in the request for proposals, including t…

Phase three consists of the submittal and evaluation of bids and the award of the contract to the successful proposer for the final design and construction of the auto ferries, as follows:(1) The department shall request bids for detailed design and construction of the vessels af…

(1) The department shall immediately notify those proposers that are not selected to participate in development of technical proposals in phase one and those proposers who submit unsuccessful bids in phase three.(2) The department's decision is conclusive unless an aggrieved prop…

If at any point there is only a single best-qualified proposer participating in the competitive design-build procurement process prior to the submission of bids in phase three, or if there is only a single responsive and responsible bid submitted in phase three, or if the current…

The legislature finds that the Washington state ferry system has an excellent safety record and has commenced a long-term vessel procurement plan to ensure the replacement of older and outdated ferry vessels. The legislature further finds that the current vessel procurement proce…

(1)(a) The department shall contract for the acquisition of five or more new hybrid diesel-electric ferry vessels that can carry up to 160 vehicles, using a one or two contract procurement approach to potentially accelerate vessel delivery.(b) The Washington state ferries shall m…

In performing the function of operating its ferry system, the department may, subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose and after consultation with the department of enterprise services, explore and implement strategies designed to reduce the o…

(1) In the absence of federal funding and the applicability of the disadvantaged business enterprise program, to increase race and gender-neutral participation of small and diverse businesses in ferry procurement, the Washington state department of transportation's office of equa…

It is the intent of the legislature to fully fund the vessel and terminal electrification program in accordance with the Washington state ferries 2040 long range plan. The legislature finds that to attain the 2040 target fleet size of 26 vessels, a biennial replacement schedule i…

Consistent with RCW 47.60.315(1)(b), the commission shall adopt an annual fare policy for Washington state ferries to allow all riders 18 years of age and younger to ride free of charge on all system routes. This fare change must apply to both walk-on passengers and passengers in…

(1) The legislature finds that the maritime sector in Washington state is currently facing historic labor challenges. The legislature further finds that the Washington state ferry system is an essential component of the transportation system. Therefore, the legislature intends th…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2711-S.SL) ***The Washington state ferries shall implement cost recovery mechanisms to recoup at least three percent in credit card and other financial transaction costs related to the collection of ferry fares imposed under RCW 47.60.290 and 47.60.315…

The state of Washington, as a public policy, declares that sound labor relations are essential to the development of a ferry and bridge system which will best serve the interests of the people of the state.[ 1961 c 13 s 47.64.005. Prior: 1949 c 148 s 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 6524-22.…

The legislature declares that it is the public policy of the state of Washington to: (1) Provide continuous operation of the Washington state ferry system at reasonable cost to users; (2) efficiently provide levels of ferry service consistent with trends and forecasts of ferry us…

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this section shall apply.(1) "Collective bargaining representative" means the persons designated by the governor and employee organizations to be the exclusive representatives during collective bar…

All employees engaged in the operation of ferries acquired by the department shall remain subject to the federal social security act and shall be under the state employees' retirement act. The department shall make such deductions from salaries of employees and contributions from…

Employees, except the masters and members of the crews of vessels, shall be subject to and entitled to the benefits of the industrial insurance laws of the state, and are hereby declared to be in extrahazardous employment within the meaning of such laws.[ 1961 c 13 s 47.64.070. P…

(1) Except as provided in RCW 47.60.656 and subsections (2) and (4) of this section, or as provided in RCW 36.54.130 and subsection (3) of this section, if any party assumes the operation and maintenance of any ferry or ferry system by rent, lease, or charter from the department …

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the employer and ferry system employee organizations, through their collective bargaining representatives, shall meet at reasonable times to negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours, working conditions, and insurance, …

(1) It is an unfair labor practice for the employer or its representatives:(a) To interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed by this chapter;(b) To dominate or interfere with the formation or administration of any employee organization …

(1) The commission is empowered and directed to prevent any unfair labor practice and to issue appropriate remedial orders; however, a complaint shall not be processed for any unfair labor practice occurring more than six months before the filing of the complaint with the commiss…

(1) The commission shall determine all questions pertaining to representation and shall administer all elections and be responsible for the processing and adjudication of all disputes that arise as a consequence of elections. The commission shall adopt rules that provide for at l…

*RCW 41.56.067 applies to this chapter.[ 2018 c 250 s 6.]Notes:*Reviser's note: This RCW reference has been corrected to reflect the reorganization of chapter 41.56 RCW by 2025 c 290 s 2.

(1) It is unlawful for any ferry system employee or any employee organization, directly or indirectly, to induce, instigate, encourage, authorize, ratify, or participate in a strike or work stoppage against the ferry system.(2) It is unlawful for the employer to authorize, consen…

(1) A collective bargaining agreement may include a provision for members of the bargaining unit to authorize the deduction of membership dues from their salary, and the employer shall enforce it by deducting from the salary payments to members of the bargaining unit the dues req…

(1) Any ferry employee organization certified as the bargaining representative shall be the exclusive representative of all ferry employees in the bargaining unit and shall represent all such employees fairly.(2) A ferry employee organization or organizations and the governor may…

(1) For the purpose of negotiating collective bargaining agreements under this chapter, the employer shall be represented by the governor or governor's designee.(2) Two or more ferry employee organizations may, upon agreement of the parties, negotiate, as a coalition with the emp…

As the first step in the performance of their duty to bargain, the employer and the employee organization shall endeavor to agree upon impasse procedures. Unless otherwise agreed to by the employee organization and the employer in their impasse procedures, the arbitrator or panel…