Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HB 1490

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Eliminating the requirement that a city or town provide preservation rating information on a certain percentage of its arterial network.

Sponsors: Representatives Fey, Rodne, Clibborn, Hargrove, Riccelli, Van Werven, McBride and Irwin.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Eliminates the requirement that a city or town provide preservation rating information on a certain percentage of its arterial network.

Hearing Date: 1/30/17

Staff: Alyssa Ball (786-7140).

Background:

In 2003, finding that the state's investment in its transportation infrastructure represented public assets worth over $100 billion but that many of these facilities were in poor condition, the Legislature adopted Senate Bill (SB) 5248, intended to create stronger accountability to ensure that cost-effective maintenance and preservation is provided for transportation facilities. Among other mandates, for the 2003-2005 biennium, SB 5248 required cities and towns to provide to the Washington State Transportation Commission (Transportation Commission) preservation rating information on at least 70 percent of the total city and town arterial network. After the 2003-2005 biennium, the preservation rating reporting requirement increased at a rate of 5 percent per biennium.

In 2011 House Bill 1748 pushed out the reporting requirement until the 2013-2015 biennium and capped the rating reporting requirement at 80 percent. Subsequently, the 2013-2015 Biennial Transportation Budget, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5024 (704) exempted cities and towns from reporting during that biennium. In the current biennium, cities and towns are required to report to the Transportation Commission on pavement conditions.

Summary of Bill:

The bill eliminates the requirement that a city or town provide preservation rating information on a certain percentage of its arterial network.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.