HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1118

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Transportation

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.

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 Amended 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.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The overall length of an articulated bus is extended from 60 feet to 61 feet to meet manufacturers' specifications.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  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.