PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amending chapters 479-01, 479-05, 479-10, 479-12, and 479-14 WAC to:
1. Reflect transfer of the urban arterial trust account (UATA) into the transportation improvement account (TIA) per chapter 120, Laws of 2011.
2. Amend delayed projects process.
3. Determine population thresholds for programs in the small city pavement and sidewalk account per chapter 14, Laws of 2011.
4. Develop new WAC to implement RCW 47.26.185 establishing qualifications for cities and counties administering design and construction of projects financed, in part, by the transportation improvement board (TIB).
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: 1 and 2. RCW 47.26.080, 47.26.084, 47.26.086; 3. RCW 47.26.345; 4. RCW 47.26.185.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: 1 and 2. These amendments are needed to comply with chapter 120, Laws of 2011, which eliminated the UATA and transferred that funding into the TIA. Combining the two funds allows a simpler cash management process for TIB and offers more flexibility within the programs for our customers. In addition, this change eliminated the delayed projects process under the UATA, which had different stipulations than the delayed projects process under the TIA. This amendment restores and modifies the delayed projects process.
3. These amendments are needed to comply with chapter 14, Laws of 2011, which gives cities the option of including or excluding population of any state correctional facility located within the city when applying for funds.
4. Some small cities and towns do not have the resources or staff to administer the design and construction of an approved project. This would allow TIB the option to offer the necessary services, providing these affected cities or towns the ability to successfully complete a transportation project.
Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Eileen Bushman, Executive Assistant, Washington State Transportation Improvement Board, P.O. Box 40901, Olympia, WA 98504-0901, (360) 586-1146, eileenb@tib.wa.gov.
September 20, 2011
Stevan Gorcester
Executive Director