HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5123

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Hansen, Patterson, Peterson, Conner, Saling, Benitz and Barr)

Revising highway advertising controls.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (23)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Brough, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Dellwo, Doty, Fisch, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Meyers, Patrick, Prince, Schmidt, C. Smith, D. Sommers, Todd, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 9, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The State Scenic Vistas Act of 1971 extended roadside advertising control to the federal-aid primary and scenic highway systems.  With the exception of advertising on-premise, the act prohibits the placement of any new sign within view of the Interstate, the primary, and the scenic systems.

(1) In 1985 legislation was enacted which allowed the placement of temporary agricultural signs on private property adjacent to a state highway.  The signs must be on-premise when adjacent to the Interstate; on- or off-premise signs are allowed on private property along the scenic and primary systems.  A person is prohibited from selling an agricultural product that is not produced on the property where the sale is taking place.

(2) Before a business that is located within one mile of a state highway may qualify for a logo on an informational panel, the owner must agree to limit the height of on-premise signs to no more than 15 feet higher than the roof of the main building.

(3) Oregon allows the placement of shopping center directional signs within the highway right-of-way.  Washington provides directional signing to other facilities that are considered traffic generators.

SUMMARY:

(1) The sale of agricultural products can be advertised on private property adjacent to a state highway even though the products being sold are not produced or harvested on the land on which the sale is taking place.

(2) A business located within one mile of a state highway can have a logo on a state information panel even though its on-premise sign exceeds the 15-foot height restriction if the on-premise sign is not visible from an urban highway.  The on-premise height restriction may be waived by the Department of Transportation if the sign is visible from a rural highway.

(3) Regional shopping center directional signs are allowed within the right-of-way of a state highway if:  (a) there are 500,000 square feet of leasable space, (b) the center has three major department stores, (c) the center is located within one mile of the highway, (d) 9,000 one-way vehicle trips are generated daily, (e) there is sufficient space available for the directional sign in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and (f) additional directional signs are provided if the center is not clearly visible from the exit.  The department will charge the shopping center an installation and maintenance fee for the directional sign.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Al Royal, Sea-Tac Mall.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Directional signs will aid motorists for the correct exit to a shopping center.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.