FINAL BILL REPORT

                 EHB 1118

                         C 113 L 91

                     Synopis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Adjusting length restrictions on buses.

By Representatives R. Fisher, R. Meyers, Schmidt and Prince.

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

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 and all the Canadian provinces allow the operation of articulated auto stages up to an overall length of 60 feet.

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

Language authorizing the DOT or a local legislative authority to restrict the routing of an auto stage or school bus.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  93   0

Senate 44   3

Effective:    July 28, 1991