A public transportation benefit area having a boundary located on Puget Sound may provide passenger-only ferry service. For the purposes of this chapter and RCW 82.14.440 and 82.80.130, Puget Sound is considered as extending north as far as the Canadian border and west as far as Port Angeles. Before a benefit area may provide passenger-only ferry service, it must develop a passenger-only ferry investment plan including elements to operate or contract for the operation of passenger-only ferry services, purchase, lease, or rental of ferry vessels and dock facilities for the provision of transit service, and identify other activities necessary to implement the plan. The plan must set forth terminal locations to be served, projected costs of providing services, and revenues to be generated from tolls, locally collected tax revenues, and other revenue sources. The plan must ensure that services provided under the plan are for the benefit of the residents of the benefit area. The benefit area may use any of its powers to carry out this purpose, unless otherwise prohibited by law. In addition, the public transportation benefit area may enter into contracts and agreements to operate passenger-only ferry service and public-private partnerships and design-build, general contractor/construction management, or other alternative procurement process substantially consistent with chapter 39.10 RCW.

Findings—Intent—2003 c 83: "The legislature finds that passenger-only ferry service is a key element to the state's transportation system and that it is in the interest of the state to ensure provision of such services. The legislature further finds that diminished state transportation resources require that regional and local authorities be authorized to develop, operate, and fund needed services.

The legislature recognizes that if the state eliminates passenger-only ferry service on one or more routes, it should provide an opportunity for locally sponsored service and the department of transportation should assist in this effort.

It is the intent of the legislature to encourage interlocal agreements to ensure passenger-only ferry service is reinstated on routes that the Washington state ferry system eliminates." [ 2003 c 83 s 101.]

Captions, part headings not law—2003 c 83: "Captions and part headings used in this act are not part of the law." [ 2003 c 83 s 401.]

Severability—2003 c 83: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 2003 c 83 s 402.]

Effective date—2003 c 83: "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 23, 2003]." [ 2003 c 83 s 403.]