HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 1118

                       As Passed House

                        March 1, 1991

Title:  An act relating to maximum lengths of vehicles.

Brief Description:  Adjusting length restrictions on buses.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives R. Fisher, R. Meyers, Schmidt and Prince.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 7, 1991, DPA;

Passed House, March 1, 1991, 93-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 26 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Brough; Cantwell; Cooper; Day; G. Fisher; Forner; Haugen; Horn; P. Johnson; R. Johnson; Jones; Kremen; Mitchell; Nelson; Orr; Prentice; Prince; Schmidt; Wilson; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

Background:  Single unit vehicles, including auto stages (for-hire buses) and school buses, may not exceed 40 feet in length.  Municipal transit vehicles are exempt from this restriction.

Some motorcoach companies are now purchasing and operating articulated buses which exceed the 40-foot restriction.  The states of California, Oregon and Nevada allow the operation of articulated auto stages up to an overall length of 60 feet.

Summary of Bill:  The bill allows the operation of an articulated auto stage with a maximum overall length of 61 feet on Washington highways.

The language authorizing the DOT or a local legislative authority to restrict the routing of an auto stage or school bus is deleted as this authorization is addressed in a separate statute and is therefore housekeeping in nature.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  California, Nevada and Oregon allow the operation of for-hire articulated buses.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  David Beagle, Washington Motorcoach Association.