GENERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES—OPERATING

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The entire forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for an interagency transfer to the department of children, youth, and families to provide driver's license support to a larger population of foster youth than is currently being served. Support services include reimbursement of driver's license issuance costs, fees for driver training education, and motor vehicle liability insurance costs.

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) $1,060,000 of the forward Washington—state account is provided solely for the department to purchase and maintain one tow truck per operating region in order to optimize fleet operations and more efficiently respond to highway system emergencies.

(2) $5,784,000 of the forward Washington—state account is provided solely for the department to purchase and maintain one underbridge inspection truck per operating region in order to better maintain and preserve bridges on the highway system.

(3) $1,074,000 of the forward Washington—state account is provided solely for the department to add one mechanic per operating region in order to better maintain the maintenance vehicle fleet.

(4)(a) $4,000,000 of the forward Washington account—state appropriation is provided solely for safety improvements and debris clean up on department-owned rights-of-way in the city of Seattle at levels above that being implemented as of January 1, 2019.

(i) Of the amount provided in this subsection, $1,500,000 of the forward Washington account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department's costs in implementing safety improvements and debris clean up on department-owned rights-of-way in the city of Seattle. The department must maintain at least two crews dedicated solely to collecting and disposing of garbage, clearing debris or hazardous material, and implementing safety improvements where hazards exist to the traveling public, department employees, or people encamped upon department-owned rights-of-way.

(ii) Of the amount provided in this subsection, $2,000,000 of the forward Washington account—state appropriation is provided solely for the security costs associated with the clean up on department-owned rights-of-way in the city of Seattle. The department may use the funds provided in this subsection to either reimburse local law enforcement costs if they are fully participating as part of a strategic agreement to implement safety improvements and debris clean up on department-owned rights-of-way in the city of Seattle, or to reimburse security costs of the Washington state patrol.

(iii) Of the amount provided in this subsection, $500,000 of the forward Washington account—state appropriation is provided solely for the city of Seattle or the department to contract with local nonprofit organizations providing outreach assistance necessary to implement safety improvements and debris clean up on department-owned rights-of-way in the city of Seattle.

(b) Beginning October 1, 2021, and quarterly thereafter, the Washington state patrol, jointly with the department of transportation, must report to the governor and the house and senate transportation committees of the legislature on the status of these efforts including:

(i) A detailed breakout of the size, location, risk level categorization, and number of encampments on or near department-owned rights-of-way in the Seattle area as of January 1, 2019, compared to the levels during the quarter being reported;

(ii) A summary of the activities in that quarter related to addressing these encampments, including information on arrangements with local governments or other entities related to these activities;

(iii) A description of the planned activities in the ensuing quarter to further address the emergency hazards and risks along state highway rights-of-way; and

(iv) Recommendations for executive branch or legislative action to achieve the desired outcome of reduced emergency hazards and risks along state highway rights-of-way.

The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: At least $3,600,000 of the amount provided in this section must be used to modify existing HOV on-ramp lanes in the central Puget Sound region to use ramp metering in order to improve the operational efficiency of the highway system.

The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) $450,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to continue to develop a performance-based project evaluation model based on the initial work done for section 218(7), chapter 219, Laws of 2020, in a way that operationalizes the six transportation policy goals in RCW 47.04.280. This work should first include clarification of the transportation policy goals through development of objectives and criteria that reflect system priorities. The department's objectives and criteria should be consistent with the objectives and performance measures established by the office of financial management under RCW 47.04.280. After a framework is established by which goals can be more directly related to outcomes, the project evaluation model should leverage the department's existing experts and best practices used for prioritizing programmatic funds to develop standard criteria by which evaluators could consistently score and rank all types of projects. The department must issue a report by June 30, 2022, summarizing the new project evaluation model, and a recommended timeline for how this process could be implemented in coordination with the legislative work cycle.

(2) $6,000,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for an Interstate 5 planning and environmental linkage study. This study will serve as a next step toward a statewide Interstate 5 master plan, building upon existing work underway in the corridor. It is the intent of the legislature to direct $40,000,000 to complete the planning and environmental linkage study over the course of this funding package.

(a) The study must meet planning and environmental linkages requirements to assess strategies and actions to address preservation and safety needs; climate change; improve corridor efficiency and person-throughput; and operate managed lanes effectively in the long-term. The study must include a robust public engagement program; and must assess multimodal transportation system impacts as well as economic, revenue and equity considerations. The outcome of this work will provide a basis for preliminary project planning, design and environmental work.

(b) The department shall submit a final report on the Interstate 5 planning and environmental linkage study to the joint transportation committee by June 30, 2023.

(c) As an initial element of the study, the department must identify and prepare an implementation plan for near-term actions to improve HOV lane system-wide performance until a long-term solution is in place, including steps required to convert HOV lanes to a different managed lane operating concept such as express toll lanes. The implementation plan must include the planning, design, environmental review, equity considerations, community engagement, traffic and revenue analysis, rate setting, and related engineering considerations necessary for a full I-5 HOV system conversion. The department shall submit an interim report on a recommended near-term implementation plan to the legislative transportation committees by December 31, 2022.

(3) $650,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely to conduct the I-90/Rainier Avenue South Interchange Access Revision Feasibility Study within a two-year schedule in coordination with agency partners and through robust community engagement, to identify cost-effective strategies to provide a safe, sustainable, integrated multimodal access system at the interchange ramp area.

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The entire forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for increasing the number of certified women and minority-owned contractors in the transportation sector and for supporting these contractors to successfully compete and earn more transportation contracting opportunities. This shall be done through various programs including, but not limited to: (1) Outreach to women and minority business communities and individuals; (2) technical assistance as needed in areas such as financing, accounting, contracting, procurement and resolution of disputes and grievances; (3) language access programs for those with limited English proficiency; and (4) other programs that aim to increase the number of women and minority contractors that are successful in obtaining contracts in the transportation sector either directly with state agencies such as the department, with local jurisdictions, or as subcontractors for prime contractors.

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) $22,750,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for a grant program for special needs transportation provided by transit agencies and nonprofit providers of transportation.

(2) $11,000,000 of the rural mobility grant program account—state appropriation is provided solely for grants to aid small cities in rural areas as prescribed in RCW 47.66.100.

(3) $3,000,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for a vanpool grant program for: (a) Public transit agencies to add vanpools or replace vans; and (b) incentives for employers to increase employee vanpool use. The grant program for public transit agencies must cover capital costs only. Operating costs for public transit agencies are not eligible for funding under this grant program.

(4) $10,000,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for bus and bus facility grants.

(5) $3,000,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for expanded transportation demand management. The department shall employ strategies to incentivize the use of transportation demand management at the local level. The department may partner with public, private, and nonprofit groups whose missions include topical areas such as social equity, public health, land use planning, transit oriented development, and active transportation.

(6) $5,000,000 of the regional mobility grant program account—state appropriation is provided solely for regional mobility grants.

(7) $5,000,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for the green transportation capital grant program established in chapter 287, Laws of 2019 (advancing green transportation adoption).

(8) $5,000,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for transit fare access grants.

(9) $10,000,000 of the forward flexible account appropriation is provided solely for the projects and activities as listed in LEAP Transportation Document 2021 NL-1 as developed April 8, 2021, Public Transportation Program (V) Projects.

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $300,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to contract with uniformed officers for SR 104 highway traffic control in Kingston during overloaded ferry travel times, with a particular focus on Sundays, Mondays, and holiday/festival weekends. Traffic control methods should include issuing boarding passes, holding traffic on the shoulder at Lindvog Road until space opens for cars at the tollbooths and dock, and management of traffic on SR 104 in order to ensure Kingston area residents and business owners have access to businesses, roads, and driveways.

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The entire freight mobility investment account—state appropriation and the entire freight mobility multimodal account—state appropriation are provided solely to enhance the grant and allocation programs administered by the freight mobility investment board.

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) The entire forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely to enhance the complete streets program.

(2) The entire transportation improvement account—state appropriation is to enhance the existing city grant and allocation programs administered by the transportation improvement board.

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $3,500,000 of the rural arterial trust account—state appropriation and $3,500,000 of the county arterial preservation account—state appropriation are provided solely to enhance the rural arterial and the county arterial preservation programs.

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) The entire forward Washington account appropriation is provided solely for the projects and activities as listed by fund, project, and amount in LEAP Transportation Document 2021 NL-1 as developed April 8, 2021, Highway Improvements Program (I) Projects.

(2) $15,000,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for storm water retrofits and improvements.

The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) The entire forward Washington account appropriation is provided solely for the projects and activities as listed by fund, project, and amount in LEAP Transportation Document 2021 NL-1 as developed April 8, 2021, Highway Preservation Program (P) Projects.

(2) It is the intent of the legislature that $12,000,000 of the amounts provided for highway preservation over the 16-year new forward Washington investment program be provided for the SR 243 Pavement Preservation and Shoulder Rebuild project.

The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The entire forward flexible account appropriation in this section is provided solely for the projects and activities as listed in LEAP Transportation Document 2021 NL-1 as developed April 8, 2021, Washington State Ferries Capital Program (W) Projects.

The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The entire appropriation in this section is provided solely for the projects and activities as listed in LEAP Transportation Document 2021 NL-1 as developed April 8, 2021, Rail Capital Program (Y) Projects.

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) $19,625,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation and $90,000,000 of the forward Washington account—state appropriation are provided solely for the projects and activities as listed by fund, project, and amount in LEAP Transportation Document 2021 NL-1 as developed April 8, 2021, Local Programs (Z) Projects.

(2) $10,000,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation and $1,983,000 of the aeronautics account—state appropriation are provided solely for a Washington ports grant program. The aeronautics account—state appropriation is provided solely for airport grants.

(3) $11,000,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for newly selected pedestrian and bicycle safety program projects. It is the intent of the legislature, over the 16-year new forward Washington investment program, that $176,000,000 will be provided for newly selected pedestrian and bicycle safety program projects.

(4) $6,000,000 of the forward flexible account—state appropriation is provided solely for newly selected safe routes to school projects.

(5) It is the intent of the legislature, over the 16-year new forward Washington investment program, that $30,000,000 will be provided to the Seattle Department of Transportation to implement Aurora Avenue North Safety Improvements. Under this program, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will be required to implement strategic transportation investments for the Aurora Ave N Corridor (Roy St. to N 145th St) that ensure walkability, mobility, and safety for residents. A specific focus must be on access management to consolidate driveways and improve safety for vulnerable users. This work must also include installation of full curb and sidewalks to improve safety, mobility, transit ridership, equity, and work towards the goals set forth in Vision Zero. SDOT must ensure the design and implementation of a sidewalk network, installation of raised medians, pedestrian refuge islands, and dedicated center turn lanes that put safety over speed, balances the needs of different modes, provides pedestrian safe zones, and supports the surrounding neighborhoods. SDOT must coordinate with WSDOT and King County Metro in implementing the investments. SDOT must ensure that funds are maximized by limiting the percentage for planning, predesign, design, permitting, and environmental review to ten percent of the total cost of each project.

(6) $27,000,000 of forward flexible account funding for the SR 520 & 148th Avenue NE Bicycle/Pedestrian Crossing project is added to the LEAP list referenced in subsection (1) of this section.

Forward Flexible Account—State Appropriation:

For distribution to cities and counties. . . .$30,000,000

The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The amount provided must be allocated between cities and counties using proportionate shares that are consistent with the total amount of fuel tax revenue distributed under RCW 46.68.090 to cities and counties. Funds credited to cities must be allocated under RCW 46.68.110(4). Funds credited to counties must be allocated under RCW 46.68.120(4). Expenditures from these funds may be used only for transportation purposes.

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