SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   EHB 1118

          AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 26, 1991

Brief Description:  Adjusting length restrictions on buses.

SPONSORS:Representatives R. Fisher, R. Meyers, Schmidt and Prince.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Nelson, Vice Chairman; Barr, Erwin, Hansen, Oke, Sellar, Snyder, Thorsness, and Vognild. 

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786‑7309)

Hearing Dates:March 26, 1991

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 Alaska, California, Oregon, Nevada and all Canadian provinces allow the operation of articulated auto stages up to an overall length of 60 feet.

SUMMARY:

Operation of an articulated auto stage with a maximum overall length of 61 feet is allowed 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.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Increasing the overall bus length will make the length requirement the same for private and public articulated busses and bring the state into compliance with surrounding states and provinces.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  David Beagle, WA Motorcoach Assn. (pro)