Brief Description: Designating highways of statewide significance.

Sponsors: Representatives Campbell, Conway, Shabro, Flannigan, Darneille, Morrell, Roach, Talcott, Lantz, Bush, Kirby, Carrell, McDonald, McMahan and Edwards.

Hearing Date: 3/3/03

Staff: Gene Baxstrom (786-7303).

Background:

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 for a portion of State Route 509 that was yet to be constructed. The legislation which authorized the creation of a regional transportation investment district in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties to fund regional needs required that 90 percent of district revenues be expended along highways of statewide significance corridors.

The regional transportation investment district legislation designated State Route 704, which has not been constructed, as a state highway and also as a highway of regional significance. The investment district legislation allowed 10 percent of regional revenues to be expended on roads other than highways of statewide significance. State Route 704 has been suggested as a needed highway link in the region and the approximate 8 mile corridor has been included in the regional transportation investment district's proposed project list.

Designation of a highway route as an 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 level of service standards.

Summary of Bill:

Designates State Route 704, which has not been built, as a highway of statewide significance. This qualifies this highway as eligible for 90 percent of the funding raised in a transportation investment plan proposed by the regional transportation investment district.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

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