HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1000
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Passed Legislature
Title: An act relating to state route number 397.
Brief Description: Extending state route number 397 to Interstate 82.
Sponsors: Representatives Haler, Klippert and Wood; by request of Transportation Improvement Board.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 1/20/09, 1/22/09 [DP].
Floor Activity
Passed House: 2/13/09, 95-0.
Passed Senate: 4/9/09, 45-0.
Passed Legislature.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Liias, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Rodne, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Campbell, Driscoll, Eddy, Ericksen, Finn, Flannigan, Herrera, Johnson, Klippert, Moeller, Morris, Rolfes, Sells, Shea, Simpson, Springer, Takko, Upthegrove, Wallace and Wood.
Staff: Christie Parker (786-7322)
Background:
Benton County and the Washington State Department of Transportation created a partnership to construct a new rural arterial to connect Interstate 82 and State Route 397. The road, which was completed in October 2008, is about 11 miles long with two 12-foot lanes and six-foot shoulders. This new "intertie road," which is also known as County Road 397, allows industrial and farm-to-market truck traffic to access the Finley and south Kennewick industrial and agricultural areas while bypassing the Tri-Cities area.
The extension of State Route 397 would result in a route jurisdiction transfer; i.e., the jurisdiction of the intertie road would be transferred from Benton County to the state. Since 1991, the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) has reviewed route jurisdiction transfer requests. If the TIB agrees that the request meets the criteria established in state law, the TIB forwards a recommendation for the transfer to the House and Senate transportation committees.
Summary of Bill:
State Route 397 is extended to include the 11-mile road currently known as the "Interstate 87 to State Route 397 intertie." Jurisdiction of this road is transferred from Benton County to the state.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This road is important and will encourage industrial growth. The construction of the road was a partnership between Benton County, the TIB, and the state. The Washington State Department of Transportation was involved in many aspects of the project including design, construction management, inspection, and surveying. The road functions as a state highway and is designed to the standards required of state highways. State Route 397 is essentially a dead end without its connection to the intertie road; the new road creates a loop around Kennewick and therefore creates connectivity. If the bill does not pass, the county will have to maintain the road but it is essentially a state road, not a county road.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Haler, prime sponsor; Steve Gorcester, Washington State Transportation Improvement Board; and Ross Dunfee, Benton County Public Works.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.