There are currently six statewide transportation system policy goals for the planning, operation, performance of, and investment in, the state's transportation system. The powers, duties, and functions of state transportation agencies are required to be performed in a manner consistent with the goals. These policy goals are identified as follows:
The Office of Financial Management (OFM), in consultation with the Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC), is directed to establish objectives and performance measures for all state transportation agencies in order to assure that transportation system performance attains the six policy goals established in statute. The OFM is required to submit these objectives and performance measures to the Legislature and the WSTC in each even-numbered year.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is also required to perform certain duties to support attainment of the statewide transportation system policy goals. These duties include: (1) maintaining an inventory of the condition of structures and corridors, as well as a list of structures and corridors in most urgent need of retrofit or rehabilitation; (2) developing long-term financing plans that sustainably support ongoing maintenance and preservation of the transportation infrastructure; (3) balancing system safety and convenience to accommodate all users of the system to safely, reliably, and efficiently provide mobility to people and goods; (4) developing strategies to reduce vehicle miles traveled; (5) considering efficiency tools to manage system demand, including high occupancy vehicle and toll lanes, corridor-specific and systemwide pricing strategies, active traffic management, and commute trip reduction; (6) promoting integrated multimodal planning; and (7) considering engineers and architects to design environmentally sustainable, context-sensitive transportation systems.
The state's six transportation system policy goals are reordered, and resilience is added to the definition of stewardship.
The state's transportation agencies are required to perform their powers, duties, and functions with preservation and safety being priorities among the state's transportation system policy goals.
The substitute bill removes the intent section from the original bill.
(In support) The WSDOT supports this bill, which reworks the priorities for the transportation system policy goals.
This bill will save money and lives. More goods will be moved more easily and arrive sooner, which will benefit the whole state. This bill will also increase the safety and effectiveness of the transportation system, while reducing carbon pollution. Finally, it will create more context-sensitive solutions.
(Opposed) None.