Background:

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) may rent or lease any lands, improvements, or air space above or below any lands held for highway purposes, but are not presently needed.  Moneys paid as rent for the WSDOT property must be deposited in the advance right-of-way revolving fund.  However, moneys that are subject to federal aid reimbursement and moneys received from rental of capital facilities properties must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund. 

Summary of Bill:

To remedy past impacts to historically marginalized populations within impacted local communities resulting from the construction of Interstate 90 and the US 395 North Spokane Corridor project, WSDOT is strongly encouraged to establish a limited project for community purposes.  The Legislature intends that WSDOT establish the project to allow the affected property to be used for community purposes made unavailable due to the placement of the highway.

 

Under the project, WSDOT may lease property that was purchased as part of the Interstate 90 corridor project and the US 395 North Spokane Corridor to the city of Spokane, or to a community-based nonprofit corporation to be used for the following community purposes made unavailable due to the placement of the highway:

• housing and ancillary improvements;
• parks;
• community revitalization projects;
• enhanced public spaces, such as trails and public plazas; and
• projects that provide enhanced economic development in the impacted community.  

 

A lease for housing and parks may be for less than economic rent—fair market rent.  However, the lease agreement must then require the lessee to maintain the premises as part of the consideration to the WSDOT.  

 

Moneys paid under the limited project must be deposited into the motor vehicle fund to be used solely within the Interstate 90 corridor project and the US 395 North Spokane Corridor.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 22, 2022.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  Communities in Spokane have been disrupted by the placement of the I-90 and North Spokane Corridor highway projects.  This bill facilitates restoring and reconnecting the affected communities.  It is a first step in helping the vision of local communities to reconnect affected communities.  One hundred people signed in support of this bill.  The state can't turn back the clock but can mitigate past impacts from the placement of the highways.  Before the highways were placed, the affected areas were rich and diverse.  Childhood homes were demolished by the highway.  Housing is a priority in the area and this bill would help provide affordable housing.  The bill will help revitalize the area including economic development and housing.  Placing I-90 deeply impacted the affected areas, including decimating neighborhoods and parks, especially Liberty Park. 

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Andy Billig, Prime Sponsor; Ben Stuckart, Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium; Betsy Wilkerson, Council Member of Spokane's District 2; Jennyfer Mesa, Latinos En Spokane; Jim Dawson, Fuse Washington; Michelle McDonald; Luc Jasmin III, Jasmin and Associates; Sandra Williams, Carl Maxey Center; Marty Dickinson, STCU; Lu Hill, Spokane Independent Business Alliance (SIMBA); Lili Navarrette, Hispanic Professional Business Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.