H-1682

AN ACT Relating to transportation to and from and parking at state facilities; adding new sections to chapter 43.19 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 46.08.172; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:

(1) Access to and from state-owned and leased facilities favors single-occupant automobiles;

(2) Current state facilities in some cases do not provide sufficient parking to meet the demands created by reliance on the single-occupant automobile;

(3) The costs in traffic congestion, pollution, and building roads and parking facilities to support continued access by single-occupant automobiles are escalating;

(4) Subsidized parking at state-owned and leased facilities favors the single-occupancy vehicle, thereby discouraging the use of alternative transportation modes;

(5) Giving free or subsidized parking for state employees, especially on capitol campus, provides a valuable benefit to those who commute by car that is not available for those who do not;

(6) Cost-effective alternatives to the single-occupant automobile to provide access to state government are available; and

(7) There is broad consensus among state and local governments to pursue a coordinated approach to managing parking and transportation for state facilities to improve access to these facilities.

Therefore, it is the purpose of sections 1 through 6 of this act to provide the department of general administration, based on the recommendations of the parking and transportation management advisory committee, with authority to develop parking and transportation management programs; ensure that access to state government for customers, employees, and visitors is improved; promote alternatives to the single-occupant automobile; and create an equitable system of parking rates that eliminates state-subsidization of parking on the capitol campus.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout sections 1 through 6 of this act.

(1) "State agency" means any state office, agency, commission, department, board, or institution financed in whole or part from funds appropriated by the legislature, except institutions of higher education.

(2) "State facilities" means all state-owned and leased facilities except state roads and highways, institutions of higher education, state parks, park and ride facilities, ferry terminals, and state military facilities.

(3) "Parking and transportation management" means policies and programs designed for the specific users of state facilities that reduce the impact on local transportation infrastructure.

(4) "Parking and transportation management advisory committee" means a committee consisting of, but not limited to:

(a) The director of the department of ecology or designee, the director of the state energy office or designee, the director of the department of general administration or designee who shall serve as chair, the secretary of the department of social and health services or designee, and the secretary of the department of transportation or designee;

(b) Two representatives of state employees appointed by the governor, one of whom shall represent an employee association certified as exclusive representative of at least one bargaining unit of classified employees, and one of whom shall represent an employee union certified as exclusive representative of at least one bargaining unit of classified employees;

(d) One member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, and one member of the senate appointed by the president.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. To carry out the purposes of sections 1 through 4 of this act, the director of general administration, based on the recommendations of the parking and transportation management advisory committee, shall:

(1) In consultation with state agencies, state employees, local and regional governments, local public transit agencies, the business community, and other interested groups, develop and implement a comprehensive state agency transportation and parking management program for state facilities;

(2) Encourage commute trip reduction plans by implementing alternatives to the single-occupant automobile, including but not limited to identifying alternative methods of travel, and programs and facilities and funding sources that support these alternatives;

(3) Provide transportation and parking criteria in the development of new or renovated state facilities, including but not limited to facility siting and design;

(4) Establish standards governing the management and allocation of parking spaces in state-owned and leased parking facilities, among visitors, clients, state employees, and service providers;

(5) Establish a fair and equitable system of parking rates for visitors, clients, state employees, and service providers using state-owned and leased facilities, which reflects the legislature's intent to eliminate state-subsidization of parking on the capitol campus;

(6) Establish an operational unit within the department and employ such personnel as are necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 1 through 4 of this act. The program manager is exempt from chapter 41.06 RCW;

(7) Establish a performance evaluation policy, including changes in travel behavior based on vehicle occupancy goals as measured by routine travel surveys;

(8) Establish necessary rules and procedures for carrying out the purposes of sections 1 through 4 of this act;

(9) Delegate the authority granted to the director, based on recommendations of the parking and transportation management advisory committee, under sections 3 and 4 of this act to any agency upon such terms as considered advisable.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The director of general administration, based on recommendations of the parking and transportation management advisory committee, shall establish fees and charges for parking and transportation programs. Fees and charges shall be used as follows:

(1) Revenues collected from parking charges on the capitol campus shall be first applied to debt service as specified in the bonds issued for the parking facilities and office buildings constructed with state funds.

(2) The state agency transportation and parking management account is created in the state treasury. Any funds remaining after the debt specified by subsection (1) of this section is satisfied, as well as revenues collected as parking fees at locations other than the capitol campus, and charges from other transportation programs that are part of the state agency transportation and parking management plan shall be paid to the account. The department of general administration shall administer the account.

(3) The account shall be used for the payment of costs, expenses, and charges incurred in the operation and administration of transportation or parking programs, transportation allowances, transit or vanpool subsidies, or other direct payments to commuters administered by the department of general administration, based on the recommendations of the parking and transportation management advisory committee, or other state agencies as part of the state agency transportation and parking management program. The programs of the various state agencies shall be treated as separate entities for financial and accounting control. Revenues collected as parking fees or as charges for other transportation programs that are part of the state agency transportation and parking management plan, but that are administered by agencies other than the department of general administration, shall be paid to the account of the agency within the account, and shall be applied to the program from which the revenues were collected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The director of general administration, based on recommendations of the parking and transportation management advisory committee, shall adopt and enforce such rules as may be deemed necessary to accomplish the purpose of sections 1 through 4 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. All state agencies shall, whenever practical, hold public hearings in facilities that are easily accessible by public transportation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 43.19 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The parking and transportation management advisory committee shall undertake a study on the effectiveness of the parking and transportation program and shall report its findings to the legislature by July 1, 1994.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. RCW 46.08.172 and 1988 ex.s. c 2 s 901, 1985 c 57 s 59, 1984 c 258 s 323, & 1963 c 158 s 1 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. 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 shall take effect July 1, 1991.