Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Transportation Committee |
ESSB 5682
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. |
Brief Description: Requiring the secretary of transportation to realign the transportation regions.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen and Marr).
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 3/25/09
Staff: Christie Parker (786-7322)
Background:
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is organized administratively into six regions that are generally separated along county boundaries. The regions are as follows:
Eastern -- Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman Counties.
North Central -- Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties.
Northwest -- Island, King, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties.
Olympic -- Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, and Thurston Counties.
Southwest -- Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Lewis, Pacific, and Skamania Counties.
South Central -- Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Kittitas, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, and Yakima Counties.
In addition to the six regions, there is a seventh office that functions similarly to a region office. This office, called the Urban Corridors office, is responsible for delivering major urban transportation projects in the Central Puget Sound area.
Summary of Bill:
Beginning in January 2010 and by no later than July 1, 2011, the WSDOT is reorganized into six regions as follows:
Eastern -- Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman Counties, as well as the portion of Walla Walla County that is not included in the South Central region.
Northwest -- Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties.
Olympic -- Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason, Lewis, Kitsap, and Thurston Counties.
Puget Sound -- King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties.
South Central -- Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Yakima Counties, as well as a connection along state number 12 to the Tri-Cities area in Walla Walla County.
Southwest -- Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific, Skamania, and Wahkiakum Counties.
Regional management staff are to be reduced by at least 5 percent by July 1, 2011.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.