H-1186.1  _______________________________________________

                     HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4007

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representatives Schual‑Berke, Fisher, Fromhold, Mielke, Cooper, Roach, Dunn, McIntire, Miloscia and Simpson

Read first time 02/06/2001.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Designating Historic U.S. Highway 99.

    TO THE HONORABLE SID MORRISON, SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, AND TO THE WASHINGTON STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, AND TO THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND MUNICIPALITIES OF WASHINGTON:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, For many years, U.S. Highway 99 was the main north-south route in the far West states, extending from Canada to Mexico; and

    WHEREAS, Beginning in the 1960's, with the construction of Interstate Route 5, the functions of U.S. Highway 99 were gradually taken over by Interstate Route 5, and U.S. Highway 99 was decertified as a federal highway and became a state route; and

    WHEREAS, Though supplanted as the state's primary north-south highway, segments of the original U.S. Highway 99 remain, although many are no longer identified as such; and

    WHEREAS, U.S. Highway 99 served as the main street of many of Washington's cities and towns and, though not currently so designated, these sections have both state and local historic significance; and

    WHEREAS, During World War II, U.S. Highway 99 was a vital military corridor and was indispensable to America's war effort; and

    WHEREAS, U.S. Highway 99 was a major migration route in the West and was fondly referred to as the "Highway of Three Nations," the "Pacific Highway," and the "Golden Chain"; and

    WHEREAS, U.S. Highway 99 is an important link to Washington's past, it is fitting that a means to designate these historic sections of former U.S. Highway 99 be established;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Department of Transportation and local governments and municipalities, upon application by local agencies or private groups, identify any section of former U.S. Highway 99 that is of interest to an applicant agency or group as "Historic U.S. Highway 99."  The designation is to be ceremonial in nature and should not be construed as placing any additional restrictions or limitations whatsoever on the ability of state or local governments or landowners to take such action with respect to property abutting former U.S. Highway 99 as is otherwise allowable under applicable laws, regulations, or ordinances.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Sid Morrison, Secretary of Transportation, the Washington State Transportation Commission, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and relevant local governments and municipalities.

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