Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill

• As highways of statewide significance those highways so designated by Transportation Commission Resolution 660, January 21, 2004.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 27 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; Simpson, Vice Chair; Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member; Jarrett, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Armstrong, Bailey, Campbell, Clibborn, Cooper, Dickerson, Edwards, Flannigan, Hankins, Hatfield, Hudgins, Kristiansen, Lovick, Mielke, Morris, Nixon, Romero, Schindler, Wallace, Wood and Woods.

In 1998 the Legislature directed the Transportation Commission (Commission) to designate highways of statewide significance. At a minimum, this designation was to include interstate highways and other statewide principal arterials needed to connect major communities across the state and support the state's economy.

The Commission refined the criteria and designated certain highways as highways of statewide significance. For a highway to be designated as a highway of statewide significance the following criteria were set: the highway must be a state highway, a principal arterial that is part of the national highway system, and a rural route serving statewide travel, or an urban route with certain connectivity or freight volumes.

In 2002 the regional transportation investment district legislation empowered the Legislature to also designate state highways of statewide significance and made that designation of a portion of State Route 509. The legislation also required that 90 percent of district revenues be expended along highways of statewide significance corridors.

Designation of a highway route as a highway of statewide significance means the improvements along the route are higher priority. It also means that improvements are essential public facilities under the Growth Management Act (GMA) plans, GMA concurrency requirements do not apply, and the state is responsible for establishing a level of service standards.

The Legislature designates as highways of statewide significance those designated by Transportation Commission Resolution Number 660 as adopted on January 21, 2004.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: State Route 9 is a significant facility providing an alternative to the congested I-5 corridor. As part of the Regional Transportation Investment District plan for Snohomish County, it is one of the two highest priority corridors. A highway of statewide significance designation allows improvements to qualify for 90 percent of the district's funds.

Testified: Representative Cooper, prime sponsor; and John Koster, Snohomish County Council.