The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) may purchase right-of-way for constructing or improving city streets that are also state highways. Title to all such rights-of-way vests in the city or town, subject to the requirement that the local jurisdiction use the property for public road purposes. However, if the road or street is to be operated as either a partially or fully controlled access highway, title to and full control over that portion incorporated into the limited access highway vests in the state.
Unused portions of right-of-way may be used for non-transportation uses with the prior written approval of the WSDOT and in accordance with any limited access plan. All revenue derived from any non-transportation use must be shared by the city or town and the state in the same proportion as the purchase costs were shared.
The WSDOT and the governing authority for the Quinault Indian Reservation were authorized, in 1985, to enter into a cooperative agreement for development and maintenance of a highway extension from the existing State Route 109 North through the Quinault Indian Reservation and intersecting with Highway 101 south of Queets. The WSDOT was also authorized to convey the right-of-way for the highway to the governing authority for the Quinault Indian Reservation, in return for a conveyance to the state of Washington of a perpetual easement for public travel on the highway.
Cooperative Agreement Authorization.
The WSDOT is authorized to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Lummi Nation and the appropriate agencies of the United States for the location, design, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and maintenance of a public road beginning on Rural Avenue at the southern boundary of the Ferndale city limits, traveling across the property held in tribal trust status for the Lummi Nation, and connecting to the approximate location of where the Ferndale city limits intersect Kope Road. The new road segment must be named after construction is concluded.
The cooperative agreement must reserve authority to construct road intersections or grade separation crossings of the roadway to the Lummi Nation. The Lummi Nation must assume responsibility for the operation and maintenance and future improvement of the roadway as a public road after construction is complete.
Location and Right-of-way Acquisition, and Conveyance to the Lummi Nation.
The WSDOT is authorized to determine the location of the roadway, in consultation with and with the approval of the Lummi Nation, and then to design, acquire right-of-way, and construct the roadway. The WSDOT is also allowed to request a temporary easement for the purpose of constructing the new road.
The agreement may also authorize the Lummi Nation to convey to the United States an easement to construct, maintain, and repair roadway improvements, if such an easement is required by regulations of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The amended bill removes the ability to transfer the entire right-of-way of the new road to the Lummi Nation, in exchange for a perpetual easement for public travel. The Lummi Nation is instead given responsibility for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the roadway as a public road.
The WSDOT is also allowed to request a temporary easement for the purpose of constructing the new road.
(In support) The WSDOT does not have the authority to work with tribes in the same fashion as cities and towns. This bill should apply to all tribes, but this authority is needed now for the WSDOT to work with the Lummi Nation.
The I-5/Slater Road project has been designed and is scheduled to begin construction. A portion of the project needs to be built on Lummi Nation land, and this bill allows that land to be returned upon project completion. The bill should also state that an easement is required.
There should be a more global process put in place for tribes to utilize in the future.
(Opposed) None.