Senate Bill 391 Summary

• Authorizes creation of a Ferry Transportation Authority as a public body corporate to provide reliable and safe ferry transportation services in designated service areas.

• Establishes an 11-member Board of Trustees consisting of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore of the municipality as ex officio voting members, plus nine appointed members from the Governor, General Assembly, Department of Transportation, county commissioners, and local municipalities.

• Grants the Authority broad powers to acquire, construct, operate, and maintain ferry transportation systems including vessels, terminals, parking facilities, and related infrastructure; to set rates and fees; and to issue bonds for financing.

• Exempts the Ferry Transportation Authority from regulation by the North Carolina Utilities Commission and restricts use of Authority equipment to charter services only when approved by the Board of Trustees and revenues exceed fully allocated expenses.

• Requires the Authority to acquire existing privately-owned ferry assets at or below appraised value and maintain the same rates, fees, charges, routes, and schedules in effect prior to acquisition.