Washington State House of Representatives	BILL ANALYSIS
Transportation Committee

HB 2548

Brief Description:  Allowing advertising on bus shelters.

Sponsors:  Representatives Sullivan, Fisher, Mitchell, Hurst, Bush, Darneille, Jarrett, Rockefeller, Ogden, Edwards, Simpson, Haigh, Nixon, Anderson, Kenney, Kirby and Jackley.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Allows PTBAs to include advertising as part of a bus shelter along a state highway right of way.

$Exempts such advertising from air space lease requirements.

Hearing Date:  1/29/02

Staff:  Paul Neal (786‑7315).

Background:

Local transit agencies, often formed as public transportation benefit areas (PTBAs), sometimes seek private partners for assistance in building and maintaining bus shelters.  The private partners are allowed to post advertising in exchange for this financial assistance.  This most often takes place within city limits, where municipalities currently have authority to allow advertising shelters within public rights of way that adjoin state highways.

In unincorporated county areas, however, current law prohibits placing advertising along state highway right of way.  To the extent that state land managed by the Department of Transportation may be used for private purposes, the department is required to charge for use of air space above those lands.  This inhibits transit agencies from seeking private partners to help with the expense of building and maintaining bus shelters in those areas.

Summary of Bill:

PTBAs are allowed to include advertising as part of a bus shelter along a state highway right of way.  Such advertising is exempt from air space lease requirements.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.