Title: An act relating to increasing the membership of public transportation benefit area authorities.

Brief Description: Increasing the authority membership of single county public transportation benefit areas.

Sponsors: Representative Liias.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/14/08, 93-0.

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/27/08.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Staff: Kelly Simpson (786-7403)

Background: Public transportation benefit areas (PTBAs) are the most common type of special purpose district established to provide public transportation (i.e., transit) service. Under current law, governing bodies of PTBAs consist of elected officials selected by and serving at the pleasure of the cities and counties within the PTBA area. (Citizen positions may exist under certain circumstances.) In the case of a single county PTBA, the governing body may not exceed nine members.

Summary of Bill: The governing body of a single county PTBA may not exceed eleven members.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Cities in Snohomish County are growing dramatically in population, and as such, some of the smaller and mid-size cities represented on the Community Transit Board are losing their proportionate representation relative to larger cities in the county.

OTHER: The transit agencies represented by the Washington Transit Association are split on the bill.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Liias, prime sponsor; Ted Hikel, City of Lynnwood.

OTHER: Peter Thein, Washington Transit Association.