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SB 5710

Addressing diesel vessel procurement at the Washington state ferries.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Perry Dozier and 1 co-sponsor

Merges flexible, multi-contract procurement to replace Issaquah-class ferries with clean diesel vessels, prioritizing in-state construction and faster delivery.

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
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Bill Summary · SB 5710

Summary of Senate Bill 5710 (S-1265.1) – Addressing diesel vessel procurement at the Washington state ferries

Overview

Senate Bill 5710 is a transportation measure introduced on February 10, 2025, and currently scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation. The bill directs the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to pursue the acquisition of clean diesel ferry vessels to replace the Issaquah-class vessels, with flexible procurement options and a state-built preference. The act would also amend several RCW provisions related to ferry operations and toll facilities, and declare an emergency.

Purpose and Intent

  • Modernize Washington state ferries by replacing the Issaquah-class with clean diesel vessels.
  • Potentially accelerate vessel delivery through a multi-contract approach.
  • Provide a state-built construction preference and updated procurement authority to support timely, cost-effective modernization.
  • Update governance for toll facilities and ferry planning to align with the new procurement approach and ongoing ferry operations.

Key Provisions

Section 1: New procurement framework for clean diesel ferries

  • WSDOT must contract for the acquisition of clean diesel ferry vessels to replace the Issaquah-class.
  • A multiple contract procurement approach may be used to speed delivery.
  • Contracts must cover a minimum of two vessels and are exempt from the standard procurement restrictions in RCW 47.60.810 through 47.60.824.
  • Allowed procurement methods:
    • Design-build (RCW 39.10)
    • Design-bid-build (RCW 39.04) or equivalent
    • Lease with an option to buy (RCW 47.60.010)
  • The governor and relevant legislative committees must approve the plan, and funding must be available for the purpose.
  • A 13% in-state production credit applies to bids for vessels constructed in Washington, adjusted to reflect the proportion of construction that occurs within the state. The credit is designed to offset economic/revenue losses and added costs of out-of-state construction (per the referenced December 2016 Washington Institute for Public Policy study).
  • The department may not restrict the means of transportation for the delivery voyage of acquired vessels.
  • The department may postpone converting the second and third Jumbo Mark II vessels to hybrid electric until the first conversion is complete and proven effective to avoid service disruptions.

Section 2: Amendments to toll facility planning and governance

  • Updates to RCW 47.56.030 (and related references) to reaffirm:
    • WSDOT’s role in planning, analysis, and construction of toll bridges, ferries, and facilities.
    • The Transportation Commission’s authority to set tolls.
    • The department’s charge to plan, analyze, and design toll facilities to support legislative consideration of toll authorization.
    • Standards for toll collection systems and interoperability, with emphasis on simplicity and minimizing toll booths where feasible.
    • Authority to use emergency contracts and single-source contracts for ferry-related repairs, when necessary to protect public safety or prudent use, and for specific vessel dry-docking work (up to two years total).
  • Provisions for procurement of materials and services to support ferries, including use of competitive proposals where appropriate and criteria for evaluating proposals (price, reliability, life-cycle costs, delivery, parts, etc.), while remaining consistent with existing statutory frameworks.

Affected Parties

  • Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT): primary implementer of the new vessel procurement and toll facility provisions.
  • Washington State Legislature: oversight and approval for contracts and funding; committees referenced include those overseeing transportation.
  • Ferry riders and communities served by the Issaquah-class vessels: potential impact from vessel replacement and service reliability considerations.
  • State shipyards and maritime industry: affected by the in-state construction credit and procurement preferences.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: February 10, 2025.
  • First reading and referral to Senate Transportation: February 10, 2025.
  • Public hearing: February 24, 2025, at 1:30 PM in the Senate Committee on Transportation.
  • The bill explicitly enables expedited procurement options and governor/legislative approvals as prerequisites for any lease-to-buy arrangements or alternative procurement strategies.

Potential Impacts

  • Accelerated modernization of Washington ferries with a preference for in-state vessel construction.
  • Possible changes in ferry project costs, timelines, and supplier options due to design-build, design-bid-build, or lease-to-buy pathways.
  • Enhanced flexibility for the department to address service reliability while transitioning to cleaner diesel/hybrid configurations.
  • Updates to toll facility governance and procurement practices to reflect evolving ferry needs.

Status

  • Public hearing scheduled in the Senate Committee on Transportation (1:30 PM).
  • Early-stage with first reading completed and committee referral noted. Further actions depend on committee deliberations and potential amendments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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