SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5710

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.

As Passed Senate, March 5, 2019

Title: An act relating to the Cooper Jones active transportation safety council.

Brief Description: Establishing the Cooper Jones active transportation safety council.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Liias, Saldaña, Cleveland, Takko, Billig, King, Nguyen and Dhingra; by request of Washington Traffic Safety Commission).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/18/19, 2/27/19 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 3/05/19, 48-0.

Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill

  • Combines the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Council and the Cooper Jones Bicyclist Safety Advisory Council into the Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Council (Council).

  • Directs the Council to review and analyze data on programs related to fatalities and serious injuries involving pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorists and issue an annual report on the Council's findings and recommendations to the Governor and the transportation committees of the Legislature.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5710 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Hobbs, Chair; Saldaña, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Sheldon, Assistant Ranking Member; Cleveland, Das, Fortunato, Lovelett, Nguyen, O'Ban, Padden, Randall, Takko, Wilson, C. and Zeiger.

Staff: Kim Johnson (786-7472)

Background: A 2015 law directed the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) to convene a Pedestrian Safety Advisory Council (Pedestrian Council) to review and analyze data related to pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries to identify points at which the transportation system could be improved and to identify patterns in pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries. The Pedestrian Council is required to meet at least quarterly and to provide a report and make recommendations on measures that could improve pedestrian safety by December 31st of each year. By December 1, 2020, the Pedestrian Council is required to report to the Legislature on the strategies deployed to improve pedestrian safety and to make recommendations on whether they should be continued and how it could be improved. The Pedestrian Council expires June 30, 2019.

In 2017 the legislature created the Cooper Jones Bicyclist Safety Advisory Council, convened by WTSC, to review and analyze data related to bicycle fatalities and serious injuries, and to

identify opportunities for safety improvements. The final report to the transportation committees of the Legislature on the strategies deployed to improve bicyclist safety, as well as any improvements the Legislature can make to the Council, was due by December 1, 2018. The Cooper Jones Bicyclist Safety Advisory Council expires on June 30, 2019.

WTSC reported both the Pedestrian Council and the Cooper Jones Bicycle Safety Advisory Council recommended the councils be consolidated and authorized to continue their original work plan, expanding their purpose of monitoring implementation of past recommendations, and include the examination of the safety of other nonmotorized active transportation participants.

Summary of First Substitute Bill: The Pedestrian Safety Advisory Council and the Cooper Jones Bicyclist Safety Advisory Council are combined into the Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Council. The WTSC is to convene the Council comprised of stakeholders who have a unique interest or expertise in the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorists.

The Council's purpose is to:

Additionally, the Council may:

The membership of the Council includes:

If funds are appropriated to the Council, it may provide grants targeted at improving pedestrian, bicyclist, or nonmotorist safety in accordance with their recommendations.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2019.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Proposed Substitute: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: Over the last four years the Legislature created two Councils with the direction to examine fatality and serious injury data for pedestrians and bicyclists and to make recommendations on how to improve the safety of the transportation for these users.

Every three days in Washington a pedestrian is killed. Twenty percent of all traffic deaths and serious injuries are related to a person who is walking or biking. A combined Council focused on how to make the system safer for our most vulnerable users of the road makes sense.

In 2017, 109 people died who were walking. The majority were crossing a road, and many struck by a hit and run driver. Under a combined purpose, the Council will search for the best infrastructure, policy, education, and enforcement strategies. There are many ideas left to explore and the combination of the two Councils will lead to more collaboration and administrative efficiencies.

We believe the Councils worked as intended and their reauthorization and reorganization will help us to continue to work towards our goal of Target Zero. Implementing the strategies of the Council will help get more people to be active, which will improve the health of our communities.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Marko Liias, Prime Sponsor; Alex Alston, Washington Bikes; Vic Colman, Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition; Pam Pannkuk, Deputy Director, Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.