Purpose: This CR-103P changes the effective date of June 1, 2019, included in the CR-103P for the permanent rule adopted by the Washington state transportation commission on December 12, 2018 (WSR 19-01-066), to August 1, 2019. As presented at the public hearing for this rule making on July 17, 2018, the effective date of the rule was set to align with implementation of Washington state department of transportation's (WSDOT) new back office system. WSDOT has since revised the anticipated date this system will be implemented from May to June 2019.

Aligning the date this rule becomes effective with the implementation of the new back office system is consistent with provisions of law directing rate-setting responsibilities cited in RCW 47.46.100 and 47.56.850, as effectiveness of this rule before implementation of this system would increase administrative burden and related costs for this rule making, negatively impacting the ability of toll rates for each toll facility to generate sufficient revenues. The effective date of August 1, 2019, is consistent with these rate-setting responsibilities by providing further assurance that the effective date will follow implementation of the back office system.

The purpose of this rule making is to propose amendments to definitions, toll rate exemptions, and administrative fee rules in chapter 468-270 WAC to provide a consistent set of non-HOV exemptions and fees for all toll facilities in the state. This rule brings consistency to exemption definitions; expands transit, rideshare, private bus, and school bus exemptions to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge facility; eliminates the requirement that emergency vehicles be responding to or returning from a bona fide emergency; and removes the short-term account discount.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 468-270-085, 468-270-105 and 468-270-115; repealing WAC 468-270-090, 468-270-091, 468-270-100 and 468-270-110; and amending WAC 468-270-030, 468-270-070, 468-270-071, 468-270-095, and 468-270-300.

Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: (1) New WAC 468-270-085 included references to WAC 468-270-100 and 468-270-110, which the proposed rule also repeals. The citations have been changed to WAC 468-270-105 and 468-270-115, which this rule creates as replacements to the repealed sections.

(2) In WAC 468-270-071, corrected reference to SR 520 Bridge toll rate table numbers in introduction, and removed reference to SR 520 Bridge short-term account rates in weekend section of Table 2 (SR 520 Two-Axle Vehicle Toll Rates).

(3) In WAC 468-270-300, removed proposed change to table number of "Customer Fees and Discounts" table from Table 12 to Table 7. An upcoming rule making for SR 99 Tunnel toll rates will add new tables 7-11 back to chapter 468-270 WAC, at which time table will again be Table 12. This change reduces the administrative burden for both rule-making processes.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.