SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 2941

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.

Background: High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are lanes reserved part-time or full-time for vehicles carrying more than one occupant. HOV lanes are intended to allow users to avoid congestion and provide reliable travel times. The Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) has authority to designate HOV lanes on state highways, and there are currently over 200 miles of HOV lanes in operation in the central Puget Sound area. During certain periods, HOV lanes are operating below capacity while adjacent general purpose lanes are congested.

High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes are lanes that are open to carpools, vanpools, transit vehicles, and toll-paying vehicles. These lanes are intended to maintain a higher level of service for multi-occupant vehicles, while permitting other vehicles to use surplus capacity in the lane by paying a toll. DOT is currently operating a HOT lane pilot project along the nine miles of HOV lanes on State Route 167 (SR 167) within King County. Tolls on the project are established by the state tolling authority, the Washington State Transportation Commission (Transportation Commission), and vary in amount by time of day and the level of traffic congestion. During peak hours, the tolls must be adjusted to maintain HOT lane performance of at least 45 miles per hour (mph) for at least 90 percent of the time.

In 2009 DOT was directed in Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5352 to conduct a traffic revenue study for Interstate 405 (I-405) in King and Snohomish counties that included funding for improvements and HOT lanes. DOT was also directed to develop a plan to operate up to two HOT lanes in each direction on I-405.

Summary of Bill: Tolling in express toll lanes on I-405, between Interstate 5 and the city of Bellevue, is authorized. The state tolling authority, the Transportation Commission, is directed to set the schedule of toll rates for these express toll lanes, which can vary by time of day, level of congestion, vehicle occupancy, and other criteria determined by the tolling authority.

DOT is required to adjust the toll rate in the express lanes to insure that vehicles with one or two passengers are allowed to enter the express toll lanes only to the extent that average speeds in the lanes remain above 45 mph 90 percent of the time during peak hours.

DOT is required to conduct a traffic and revenue analysis of a 40-mile continuous express toll lane system that includes SR 167 and I-405. DOT is directed to use the information from this analysis to develop a financing plan to fund improvements in the corridor, and is required to present both the traffic and revenue analysis and the finance plan to the Governor and the Legislature by January 2011.