Brief Description: Designating a select portion of state route number 97 as a heavy haul industrial corridor.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Morton, Swecker, Haugen, King, Spanel, Parlette and Delvin).

Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation

Background: The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) may, at the request of a port, designate highways located on port property as heavy haul industrial corridors. WSDOT may enter into agreements with ports to manage and maintain these corridors. Typically, the purpose of a heavy haul industrial corridor is to allow for the controlled movement of overweight, sealed, ocean-going containers from a port to a railhead. The gross vehicle weight must not exceed 105,500 pounds. The entity operating the overweight vehicles in the corridor is responsible for paying a special permit fee of $100 a month or $1,000 a year, which is deposited in the motor vehicle fund.

Summary: WSDOT must designate the portion of State Route 97 that runs from the Canadian border to the city of Oroville as a heavy haul industrial corridor for the movement of overweight vehicles. WSDOT may issue special permits to overweight vehicles operating in the corridor up to a gross vehicle weight of 137,788 pounds. Entities issued a special permit must pay a fee of $100 a month or $1,000 a year, which is deposited in the motor vehicle fund.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      48   0
House      96   0

Effective: June 12, 2008