HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5649
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 Reported by House Committee On:
Transportation
Title: An act relating to modifying the eligibility requirements for certain counties to form a regional transportation planning organization.
Brief Description: Modifying the eligibility requirements for certain counties to form a regional transportation planning organization.
Sponsors: Senators Hawkins and Saldaña.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 3/9/17, 3/15/17 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 20 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Farrell, Vice Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Wylie, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Harmsworth, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chapman, Gregerson, Irwin, Kloba, Lovick, Morris, Pellicciotti, Pike, Riccelli, Rodne, Stambaugh, Tarleton and Van Werven.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Shea.
Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).
Background:
A regional transportation planning organization (RTPO) is a voluntary association of local governments within a county, or within geographically contiguous counties, created primarily to prepare regional transportation plans, to ensure local and regional coordination of transportation planning, and to maintain a six-year regional transportation improvement program.
An RTPO can cover both urban and rural areas and receives state funding in support of its planning efforts. Federal legislation has created the metropolitan planning organization (MPO). An MPO covers an urbanized area and receives federal funding in support of its planning efforts. In urbanized areas, the RTPO under state law is the same as the MPO designated for federal transportation planning purposes.
An RTPO must contain at least one county; have a population of at least 100,000, have a population of at least 75,000 and contain a Washington State Ferries terminal, or contain at least three counties; and have as members all counties in the region and contain at least 60 percent of the cities and towns in the region representing at least 75 percent of the cities' and towns' populations.
There are 15 RTPOs covering 37 of the 39 counties in Washington. Okanogan and San Juan counties are not part of any RTPO.
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Summary of Bill:
A county with a population greater than 40,000 and a size greater than 5,000 square miles is allowed to form an RTPO, so long as it meets the other requirements for RTPO formation.
Based on the 2016 Office of Financial Management population estimates, Okanogan County is the only county that currently meets the population and square mileage thresholds.
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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) Okanogan County was part of an RTPO with Chelan and Douglas counties until they formed their own RTPO in 2013. There have been past efforts to allow Okanogan County to form its own RTPO, and this is another such effort.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Senator Hawkins, prime sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.