47.60.355 - Terminal and vessel preservation funding requests -- Predesign study. - Washington Statutes

Terminal and vessel preservation funding requests — Predesign study.

(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 include all elements required by the office of financial management.

[2010 c 283 § 3; 2007 c 512 § 11.]

Notes: Findings -- Intent -- 2010 c 283: "The legislature finds that the Washington state ferry system is a critical component of the state's highway system. The legislature further finds that ferry system revenues are inadequate to support the capital requirements of aging vessels and terminals, and operating cost growth is fast outpacing the growth of fare revenue and gas tax revenue dedicated to the ferry system. As such, and drawing on more than four consecutive years of legislative analysis and operating policy reforms, the legislature finds that a realignment of the ferry compensation policy framework is an appropriate next step toward the legislature's long-term goal of assuring sustainable, cost-effective ferry service. The legislature further intends to address increased costs of ferry system operations in a manner that balances the interests of the ferry system, ferry workforce, and fare payers. It is the intent of the legislature that final recommendations from the joint transportation committee ferry study, submitted to the legislature during the 2009 regular legislative session, be enacted by the legislature and implemented by the department of transportation as soon as practicable in order to benefit from the efficiencies and cost savings identified in the recommendations. It is also the intent of the legislature to make various additional policy changes aimed at further efficiencies and cost savings. Since the study began in 2006, recommendations have been made with regard to long range planning and implementing the most efficient and effective balance between ferry capital and operating investments. It is intended that this act, the 2009-2011 omnibus transportation appropriations act, and subsequent transportation appropriations acts serve as vehicles for enacting these recommendations in order to maximize the utilization of existing capacity and to make the most efficient use of existing assets and tax dollars." [2010 c 283 § 1.]

Effective date -- 2010 c 283: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 1, 2010]." [2010 c 283 § 24.]

Management review of ferries division -- 2010 c 283: "(1) The office of financial management shall convene an expert panel of ferry operators to conduct a management review of the Washington state department of transportation, ferries division. The panel must have between three and five members and must represent both management and operations specialists, as well as public and private ferry operators that can bring best practices and state-of-the-art knowledge to this effort. The panel shall review past studies, conduct its own review, and make recommendations of the ferries division's management. The study must be completed and submitted to the transportation committees of the senate and house of representatives by August 1, 2010, and must include:

     (a) A review and comment on the studies and audits conducted on the ferries division over the past four years in areas of overhead and management organization structure and costs, maintenance practices, scheduling, and prioritization of preservation of vessels and terminals to ensure they represent current best practices;

     (b) A report on the implementation of the recommendations in the studies and audits described in (a) of this subsection, and a report on their effectiveness compared to national best practices; and

     (c) A review and report on the procedures for crew and service scheduling and recommendations on opportunities for improvement to provide the least cost of operations while maintaining service schedules that meet the needs of ferries customers.

     (2) This section expires July 1, 2011." [2010 c 283 § 2.]

Assaults on Washington state ferries employees -- 2010 c 283: "(1) Signage must be prominently displayed at each terminal and on each vessel that informs the public that assaults on Washington state employees will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

     (2) The department shall investigate the frequency, severity, and prosecutorial results of assaults on Washington state ferries employees and, if appropriate, make recommendations to the transportation committees of the senate and house of representatives during the 2011 legislative session regarding methods to decrease the number of assaults on employees and procedures for prosecuting those who assault employees.

     (3) This section expires June 30, 2011." [2010 c 283 § 8.]

Finding -- Intent -- 2007 c 512: See note following RCW 47.06.140.