SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 2201

BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Walk, Jones, Hargrove, Zellinsky, Schmidt and Vekich)

Revising funding of the Hood Canal Bridge.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 29, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Nelson, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Bender, Benitz, Conner, Hansen, McMullen, Murray, Sellar, Thorsness.

Senate Staff:Gene Schlatter (786-7316)

                  March 30, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 29, 1989

BACKGROUND:

A recent court case resulted in requiring the Department of Transportation to re-establish tolls on the Hood Canal Bridge.  Under current law Hood Canal Bridge tolls must be in place until all obligations have been repaid, including principal and interest on Hood Canal Bridge bonds.

SUMMARY:

The requirement to collect tolls for maintenance and operations, debt service on outstanding bonds, or repayment to the motor vehicle fund for previous expenditures is eliminated.  Tolls are not required so long as sufficient funds (from the Puget Sound construction account) are available to pay debt service.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

Technical changes are made to remove all statutory provisions requiring tolls.

The requirement that the motor vehicle fund be repaid $11.6 million loaned to the ferry system during the Hood Canal Bridge disaster is eliminated.

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative Evan Jones; Representative Karen Schmidt; Bob Forshaw, Fair Toll Coalition; Terry McCarthy, Department of Transportation