SENATE BILL REPORT
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. |
As Passed Senate, March 11, 2009
Title: An act relating to the realignment of transportation regions.
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 History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/16/09, 2/25/09 [DPS].
Passed Senate: 3/11/09, 42-7.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5682 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Becker, Berkey, Delvin, Eide, Jarrett, Kauffman, Kilmer, King and Sheldon.
Staff: Amanda Cecil (786-7429)
Background: The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is organized administratively into six regions that are generally separated along county boundaries. In addition to the six regions, there is a seventh office that functions similarly to a region office. This office is responsible for delivering major urban transportation projects in the Central Puget Sound area.
The boundaries of these regions are determined by WSDOT.
Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill: There are currently seven administratively formed transportation regions, including the Urban Corridors Office. The regions are realigned from seven to six regions. This consolidation will result in a 5 percent decrease in the amount of regional management staff by July 1, 2011.
The newly aligned regions generally include:
the Olympic Region, containing Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason, Lewis, Kitsap, and Thurston Counties;
the Southwest Region, containing Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, and Skamania Counties;
the Northwest Region, containing San Juan, Island, Whatcom, and Skagit Counties;
the Puget Sound Region, containing King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties;
the South Central Region, containing Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Yakima, Benton, Franklin, and Klickitat Counties, with a connection into Walla Walla County along State Route 12 to the Tri-Cities area; and
the Eastern Region, containing Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin Counties, and that portion of Walla Walla County not included above.
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: CON: Inefficiencies are created in the way the regional planning council reports to the regions by splitting Thurston County.
OTHER: WSDOT presented suggestions for how a regional consolidation could be better aligned.
Persons Testifying: CON: Lon Wyrick, Thurston Regional Planning Council.
OTHER: David Dye, WSDOT.