HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2216

BYRepresentatives Day, D. Sommers, Walk, Moyer, Schmidt, Rector, Wolfe, R. Fisher, Silver, Cooper, Prince, Dellwo and Fuhrman.

Revising provisions for the Spokane river toll bridge.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Betrozoff, Cooper, Day, G. Fisher, Jones, R. Meyers, Nelson, Prentice, Smith, D. Sommers, Walker, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Robin Rettew (786-7306)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 2, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In 1956 the Washington Toll Bridge Authority sold bonds to build the Spokane River Toll Bridge (Maple Street Bridge) in the city of Spokane, and the bridge became the responsibility of the Department of Transportation until the bonds are retired.

Currently there remains outstanding on the bridge $2.5 million in bond debt service plus $600,000 in Motor Vehicle Fund loans.

The bridge deck and approaches have seriously deteriorated and must be replaced.  Also, the toll plaza is in need of major repair.  The total cost estimate is $3.8 million but the Toll Bridge Fund contains only $1.3 million.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Transportation will retire the remaining bond debt of $2.5 million for the Spokane River Toll Bridge, and replace the bridge deck in the 1991-93 biennium with federal bridge replacement funds (80 percent federal--20 percent state) at an estimated cost to the Motor Vehicle Fund-State of $300,000.  The Department will also upgrade the bridge approaches in the 1991-93 biennium at an estimated cost of $500,000.  Bridge tolls will end as soon as all bonds have been retired.

The City of Spokane will provide $300,000 in matching funds for the bridge deck replacement.

Of the funds remaining in the Toll Bridge Fund ($1.3 million), $600,000 will be used to repay the Motor Vehicle Fund loan and $300,000 to offset Department of Transportation costs.  The balance of $400,000 will fund removal of the toll booths and engineering costs.

Ownership of the bridge will be transferred to the city of Spokane, as well as the responsibility for all maintenance.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Dave Robinson, Spokane City Council; Glenn Miles, Spokane Regional Council; Dale Stedman, Inland Automobile Association and Spokane Area Good Roads Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Eliminating the toll on the Maple Street Bridge will reduce congestion for the city of Spokane and will relieve the Department of Transportation from administration of the Toll Bridge Fund.  Replacing the bridge deck and approaches with federal/state/local monies represents a cooperative effort for a critical project which has been under review for many years.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.