Z-0289

AN ACT Relating to transportation to and from and parking at state facilities; adding new sections to chapter 43.19 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 46.08.172; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:

(1) Access to and from state-owned and leased facilities favors single-occupant automobiles;

(2) Current state facilities in some cases do not provide sufficient parking to meet the demands created by reliance on the single-occupant automobile;

(3) The costs in traffic congestion, pollution, and building roads and parking facilities to support continued access by single-occupant automobiles are escalating;

(4) Cost-effective alternatives to the single-occupant automobile to provide access to state government are available; and

(5) There is broad consensus among state and local governments to pursue a coordinated approach to managing parking and transportation for state facilities to improve access to these facilities.

Therefore, it is the purpose of sections 1 through 5 of this act to provide the department of general administration with authority to develop parking and transportation management programs; ensure that access to state government for customers, employees, and visitors is improved; and promote alternatives to the single-occupant automobile.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout sections 1 through 5 of this act.

(1) "State agency" means any state office, agency, commission, department, board, or institution financed in whole or part from funds appropriated by the legislature, except institutions of higher education.

(2) "State facilities" means all state-owned and leased facilities except state roads and highways, institutions of higher education, state parks, park and ride facilities, ferry terminals, and state military facilities.

(3) "Parking and transportation management" means policies and programs designed for the specific users of state facilities and how those users affect local transportation systems.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. To carry out the purposes of sections 1 through 4 of this act, the director of general administration shall:

(1) In consultation with state agencies, state employees, local and regional governments, the business community, and other interested groups, develop and implement a comprehensive state agency transportation and parking management program for state facilities;

(2) Implement alternatives to the single-occupant automobile, including but not limited to identifying alternative methods of travel, and programs and facilities and funding sources that support these alternatives;

(3) Provide transportation and parking criteria in the development of new or renovated state facilities, including but not limited to facility siting and design;

(4) Establish standards governing the management and allocation of parking spaces in state-owned and leased parking facilities, among visitors, clients, state employees, and service providers;

(5) Establish a fair and equitable system, considering market rates, of parking rates for users of state-owned and leased facilities;

(6) Establish an operational unit within the department and employ such personnel as are necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 1 through 4 of this act. The program manager is exempt from chapter 41.06 RCW;

(7) Establish necessary rules and procedures for carrying out the purposes of sections 1 through 4 of this act;

(8) Delegate the authority granted to the director under sections 3 and 4 of this act to any agency upon such terms as considered advisable.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The director of general administration shall establish fees and charges for parking and transportation programs. Fees and charges shall be used as follows:

(1) Revenues collected from parking charges on the capitol campus shall be first applied to debt service as specified in the bonds issued for the parking facilities and office buildings constructed with state funds.

(2) The state agency transportation and parking management account is created in the state treasury. Any funds remaining after the debt specified by subsection (1) of this section is satisfied, as well as revenues collected as parking fees at locations other than the capitol campus, and charges from other transportation programs that are part of the state agency transportation and parking management plan shall be paid to the account. The department of general administration shall administer the account.

(3) The account shall be used for the payment of costs, expenses, and charges incurred in the operation and administration of transportation or parking programs administered by the department of general administration, or other state agencies as part of the state agency transportation and parking management program. The programs of the various state agencies shall be treated as separate entities for financial and accounting control. Revenues collected as parking fees or as charges for other transportation programs that are part of the state agency transportation and parking management plan, but that are administered by agencies other than the department of general administration, shall be paid to the account of the agency within the account, and shall be applied to the program from which the revenues were collected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The director of general administration shall adopt and enforce such rules as may be deemed necessary to accomplish the purpose of sections 1 through 4 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The legislature finds that commercial or on-street parking for state employees or the public wishing to participate in government is increasingly not available. This nonavailability serves as an impediment to public participation in government. While it is not desirable for the department of general administration to provide free parking to state employees, it is desireable for the department of general administration to make available to state employees as much parking as possible. The more parking that is made available to employees the more on-street and other commercial parking is available to the public. The department of general administration by providing zoned instead of assigned parking has substantially increased the availability of employee parking. This act removes the sales tax charge which resulted from the change to zoned parking. Efficiencies in state government are encouraged. This act encourages the public participation in government, allows efficient use of parking administered by the department of general administration, and aids in state employee efficiency.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 5 of this act are each added to chapter 43.19 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. RCW 46.08.172 and 1988 ex.s. c 2 s 901, 1985 c 57 s 59, 1984 c 258 s 323, & 1963 c 158 s 1 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1991.