H-0834

AN ACT Relating to high-speed ground transportation; amending RCW 47.86.030; creating new sections; making an appropriation; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that major transportation corridors in this state are reaching unacceptable levels of congestion. Proposed improvements such as extension of the HOV-lane system or regional high-capacity systems, can, at best, only temporarily reduce the rate at which congestion increases. Further, such improvements do not address cross-state travel demands, whether north-south or east-west.

Therefore, the legislature finds that 1991 is an appropriate time for the legislature and the governor to direct that a comprehensive assessment be made of the feasibility of developing a high-speed ground transportation system within the state and that a plan be developed for implementation of potential alternatives.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The high-speed ground transportation steering committee is created, consisting of fifteen members, appointed jointly by the governor, the chair of the legislative transportation committee, and the chair of the transportation commission. The appointing authorities shall also designate the chair of the steering committee.

The committee must include representatives from the following:

(1) Cities and counties, including both elected officials and planners, and if possible, representatives of regional transportation planning organizations;

(2) Public transportation systems;

(3) The federal government, such as the UMTA, Amtrak, or the federal railroad administration; and

(4) The private sector, including:

(a) The financial community;

(b) The engineering and construction community;

(d) The legal profession.

Members of the steering committee shall receive no compensation for their service, but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The following persons shall serve as nonvoting liaison members to the steering committee:

(1) The governor or a designee;

(2) Four legislators, one from each caucus of each house, appointed by the chair of the legislative transportation committee; and

(3) The chair of the transportation commission.

In addition to those persons, the governor shall attempt to obtain appropriate liaison representation to the steering committee from the state of Oregon and the province of British Columbia.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The steering committee shall initially address the feasibility of a high-speed ground transportation system within this state, including such issues as:

(1) When such a system would be feasible;

(2) The forecasted demand, assessing whether the focus should be on passenger travel or freight or both;

(3) Identification of the corridors to be analyzed;

(4) Land use implications;

(5) Environmental considerations;

(6) The compatibility of such a system with regional transportation plans along proposed corridors;

(7) Impacts on and interfaces with other travel modes;

(8) Technological options for high-speed ground transportation, both foreign and domestic;

(9) Required specifications for speed, safety, access, and frequency;

(10) Identification of existing highway or railroad rights of way that are suitable for high-speed travel;

(11) Identification of additional rights of way that may be needed and the process for acquiring those rights of way;

(12) The recommended institutional arrangement for carrying out detailed planning for such a system, for constructing it, and for operating it;

(13) Whether financing of construction should be public or private or some combination of both;

(14) Whether financing of operations should be public or private or some combination of both.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. In order to provide technical and administrative support to the steering committee, the office of high-speed ground transportation is created within the department of transportation. That office may contract with consultants at the direction of the steering committee and shall provide other support functions as requested by the committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The steering committee shall present a final report to the governor, the legislature, and the transportation commission by December 15, 1992. It shall present interim progress reports as appropriate. The final report must include findings of the steering committee, a recommended plan for implementation, and proposed legislation to implement the next phase of a high-speed ground transportation program.

Sec. 7. RCW 47.86.030 and 1990 c 298 s 41 are each amended to read as follows:

The commission shall conduct studies to determine Washington's long‑range air transportation policy, including an assessment of intermodal needs, and to assess the impacts of increasing air traffic upon surrounding communities, including an evaluation of noise mitigation and surface transportation impacts at existing facilities, and the potential impact at new or expanded facilities.

The studies shall include, but are not limited to the following:

(1) The feasibility of acquiring the Stampede Pass rail line for use as a utility corridor, intermodal high speed transportation corridor or other transportation uses. The study shall include an examination of the ownership of the Stampede Pass rail line right of way and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of preserving the Stampede Pass rail line corridor. It shall include interested public and private agencies when conducting the study. The commission shall encourage local communities and the private sector to financially participate in the study. The commission shall make a presentation of the feasibility findings to the legislative transportation committee on or before December 1, 1990.

(2) Recommendations to the legislature on future Washington state air transportation policy, including the expansion of existing and potential air carrier and reliever facilities and the siting of such new facilities, specifically taking into consideration intermodal needs. The commission shall consider the development of wayports in eastern Washington, taking into account similar developments in Japan and Germany, in order to reduce congestion resulting from rapid growth in the Puget Sound region. The commission shall ((examine high speed rail transportation systems, including but not limited to magnetic levitation trains, personal rapid transit systems, and complimentary transportation systems, using to the extent possible the existing rights of way along I‑90, I‑5, and the Stampede Pass rail corridor)) coordinate its study of airport siting policy issues with the efforts of the high-speed ground transportation steering committee.

The commission shall submit findings and recommendations to the legislative transportation committee by December 1, 1994, with an interim report to be presented to the legislative transportation committee by December 1, 1992.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The sum of one million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the transportation fund to the department of transportation for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 1993, to carry out the purposes of this act. The appropriation shall be expended in accordance with the work plan developed by the high-speed ground transportation steering committee created in section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Sections 1 through 6 of this act shall expire December 31, 1992.