H-0325

AN ACT Relating to long-term transportation planning; amending RCW 36.79.080, 36.81.121, 47.05.030, 47.26.084, and 47.26.220; and adding a new chapter to Title 47 RCW.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 36.79.080 and 1983 1st ex.s. c 49 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

In preparing their respective six-year programs relating to rural arterial improvements, counties shall select specific priority improvement projects for each functional class of arterial based on the rating of each arterial section proposed to be improved in relation to other arterial sections within the same functional class, taking into account the following:

(1) Its structural ability to carry loads imposed upon it;

(2) Its capacity to ((~~move traffic at reasonable speeds;~~

~~(3)~~)) provide efficient, dependable, and rapid accessibility for movement of people and goods;

(3) Its consistency with local and regional transportation and land use plans;

(4) Its consistency with state, regional, and local transit plans, where applicable;

(5) Its consistency with state, regional, and local freight rail considerations;

(6) Its adequacy of alignment and related geometrics;

((~~(4)~~)) (7) Its accident experience; and

((~~(5)~~)) (8) Its fatal accident experience.

With assistance from regional transportation planning organizations, where applicable, adjacent counties, and the county road administration board, long-term plans shall be used to guide development of the six-year programs. The six-year construction programs shall remain flexible and subject to annual revision as provided in RCW 36.81.121.

Sec. 2. RCW 36.81.121 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 s 58 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Before July 1st of each year, the legislative authority of each county with the advice and assistance of the county road engineer, and pursuant to one or more public hearings thereon, shall prepare and adopt a comprehensive road program for the ensuing six calendar years. If the county has adopted a comprehensive plan pursuant to chapter 35.63 or 36.70 RCW, the inherent authority of a charter county derived from its charter, or chapter 36.70A RCW, the program shall be consistent with this comprehensive plan.

The program shall include proposed road and bridge construction work, and for those counties operating ferries shall also include a separate section showing proposed capital expenditures for ferries, docks, and related facilities. Copies of the program shall be filed with the county road administration board ((~~and with~~)), the state secretary of transportation, and the regional transportation planning organization, where applicable, not more than thirty days after its adoption by the legislative authority. The purpose of this section is to assure that each county shall perpetually have available advanced plans looking to the future for not less than six years as a guide in carrying out a coordinated road construction program that reflects the transportation goals set forth in chapter 36.70A RCW. The program may at any time be revised by a majority of the legislative authority but only after a public hearing thereon.

(2) The six-year program of each county having an urban area within its boundaries shall contain a separate section setting forth the six-year program for arterial road construction based upon its long-range construction plan and formulated in accordance with regulations of the transportation improvement board. The six-year program for arterial road construction shall be submitted to the transportation improvement board forthwith after its annual revision and adoption by the legislative authority of each county. The six-year program for arterial road construction shall be based upon estimated revenues available for such construction together with such additional sums as the legislative authority of each county may request for urban arterials from the urban arterial trust account or the transportation improvement account for the six-year period. The arterial road construction program shall provide for a more rapid rate of completion of the long-range construction needs of principal arterial roads than for minor and collector arterial roads, pursuant to regulations of the transportation improvement board.

(3) Each six-year program forwarded to the secretary in compliance with subsection (1) of this section shall contain information as to how a county will expend its moneys, including funds made available pursuant to chapter 47.30 RCW, for bicycles, pedestrians, and equestrian purposes.

Sec. 3. RCW 47.05.030 and 1987 c 179 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The transportation commission shall adopt and periodically revise, after consultation with the legislative transportation committee, a comprehensive six-year program and financial plan for highway improvements specifying program objectives for each of the highway categories, "A," "B," "C," and "H," defined in this section, and within the framework of estimated funds for such period. The program and plan shall be based upon the improvement needs ((~~for state highways as determined by the department from time to time~~)) identified in the state highway system plan, as required under section 6 of this act.

With such reasonable deviations as may be required to effectively utilize the estimated funds and to adjust to unanticipated delays in programmed projects, the commission shall allocate the estimated funds among the following described categories of highway improvements, so as to carry out the commission's program objectives:

(1) Category A shall consist of those improvements necessary to sustain the structural, safety, and operational integrity of the existing state highway system (other than improvements to the interstate system to be funded with federal aid at the regular interstate rate under federal law and regulations, and improvements designated in subsections (2) through (4) of this section).

(2) Category B shall consist of improvements for the continued development of the interstate system to be funded with federal aid at the regular interstate rate under federal law and regulations.

(3) Category C shall consist of the development of major transportation improvements (other than improvements to the interstate system to be funded with federal aid at the regular interstate rate under federal law and regulations) including designated but unconstructed highways which are vital to the state-wide transportation network.

(4) Category H shall consist of those improvements necessary to sustain the structural and operational integrity of existing bridges on the highway system (other than bridges on the interstate system or bridge work included in another category because of its association with a highway project in such category).

Projects which are financed one hundred percent by federal funds or other agency funds shall, if the commission determines that such work will improve the state highway system, be managed separately from the above categories.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The legislature recognizes that the ownership and operation of Washington's transportation system is spread among federal, state, and local government agencies, regional transit agencies, port districts, and the private sector. Therefore, transportation planning must be a comprehensive and coordinated effort. The specific role of the department in transportation planning shall be (1) ongoing coordination and development of state-wide transportation policies that guide all Washington transportation providers, (2) ongoing system planning for state transportation systems that identifies investment needs and meets federal requirements for state-wide transportation plans, (3) coordinating the state high capacity transportation planning and regional transportation planning programs, and (4) conducting special transportation planning studies that impact state transportation facilities or relate to transportation issues of state-wide significance. Specific requirements for each of these state transportation planning components are described in this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The department shall develop a state transportation policy plan that (1) establishes a vision and goals for the development of the state-wide transportation system consistent with the state's growth management goals, (2) identifies significant state-wide transportation policy issues, and (3) recommends state-wide transportation policies and strategies to the legislature to fulfill the requirements of RCW 47.01.071(1). The state transportation policy plan shall be the product of an ongoing process that shall involve representatives of significant transportation interests and the general public from across the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The department shall produce a state-wide transportation plan under RCW 47.01.071(3) consisting of a highway system plan, ferry system plan, airport system plan, freight rail plan, and bicycle plan. These plans shall guide state investment in transportation facilities to ensure the continued mobility of people and goods within regions across the state in a cost-effective manner. These plans must be consistent with the state transportation policy plan and with each other, and shall reflect public involvement and be coordinated with regional transportation planning, high capacity transportation planning, and local comprehensive plans. The specific requirements for these plans are:

(1) State highway system plan - A plan that identifies program needs and specific improvements recommended to preserve the structural integrity of the state highway system and ensure acceptable operating conditions. The state highway system plan must contain the following elements:

(a) System preservation - This element establishes structural preservation standards for the state highway system including bridges, identifies current and future structural deficiencies based upon analysis of current condition and engineering analysis of future deterioration, and recommends program funding levels and specific improvements necessary to preserve the structural integrity of the state highway system at adopted standards. This element shall serve as the basis for the preservation component of the six-year highway construction program.

(b) Capacity and operational improvement - This element establishes operational standards, including safety considerations, for moving people and goods on the state highway system, identifies current and future capacity and operational and safety deficiencies, and proposes program funding levels and specific improvements and strategies necessary to maintain the established operational standards. Forecasts of travel shall be based upon adopted local land use plans, and shall be consistent with those developed for regional transportation planning. Capacity and operational improvement plans shall first assess strategies that enhance the operational efficiency of the existing system before recommending system expansion. Specific improvement recommendations shall be based upon which alternative moves the most people or goods, or both. Strategies that enhance the operational efficiency include access management, transportation system management, demand management, and high occupancy vehicle facility development.

The capacity and operational improvement element must conform to the state implementation plan for air quality, and be consistent with regional transportation plans adopted under chapter 47.80 RCW, and provide the basis for the capacity and operational improvement portions of the highway construction program.

(c) Scenic and recreational highways element - This element shall identify and recommend designation of scenic and recreational highways, provide for enhanced access to scenic, recreational, and cultural resources associated with designated routes, and ensure, through a variety of appropriate management strategies, the protection, preservation, and enhancement of these resources. The department, affected local governments, regional transportation planning organizations, and other state or federal agencies shall jointly develop this element.

(2) The Washington state ferry system plan - A plan to guide state investments in the Washington state ferry system to ensure a mobility link across Puget Sound. The plan shall establish service standards for state ferry routes, forecast travel demand for the various markets served by the state ferry system, and develop strategies for ferry system investment that consider both vehicle and passenger needs, meet regional and state-wide travel purposes, support local land use plans, and are fully integrated into land transportation connections.

The Washington state ferry system plan shall be developed in conjunction with the regional transportation planning organizations designated for counties served by the Washington state ferry system and the ferry advisory committees.

(3) The airport systems plan - A plan to identify the program needs for public use airports in the state, and to fulfill the state-wide aviation planning requirements of the federal government.

(4) The state freight rail plan - A plan to identify light density freight rail lines threatened with abandonment, establish criteria for the importance of preserving the service or line, recommend priorities for the use of state rail assistance and state rail banking program funds, and fulfill federal state-wide rail planning requirements.

(5) The state bicycle plan - A plan to identify bicycling needs on the state transportation systems and to provide a basis for the investment of state highway funds dedicated to bicycling facilities under chapter 47.30 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The department's role in high capacity transportation planning and regional transportation planning is to administer state planning grants for these purposes, participate in these regional planning processes, and coordinate other department planning with these regional efforts.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The department may carry out special transportation planning studies to resolve specific issues with the development of the state transportation system or other state-wide transportation issues.

Sec. 9. RCW 47.26.084 and 1988 c 167 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The transportation improvement account is hereby created in the motor vehicle fund. The board shall adopt rules and procedures which shall govern the allocation of funds in the transportation improvement account at such time as funds become available.

The board shall allocate funds from the account by June 30 of each year for the ensuing fiscal year and shall endeavor to provide geographical diversity in selecting improvement projects to be funded from the account.

Of the amount made available to the transportation improvement board from the transportation improvement account for improvement projects:

(1) Eighty-seven percent shall be allocated to counties, to cities with a population of over five thousand, and to transportation benefit districts. Improvement projects may include, but are not limited to, multi-agency and suburban arterial improvement projects.

((To be eligible to receive these funds, a project must be (a) consistent with state, regional, and local transportation plans and consideration shall be given to the project's relationship, both actual and potential, with rapid mass transit and at such time as a rail plan is developed by the rail development commission, projects must be consistent therewith, (b) necessitated by existing or reasonably foreseeable congestion levels attributable to economic development or growth, and (c) partially funded by local government or private contributions, or a combination of such contributions.)) Before awarding funding for any specific project the transportation improvement board shall determine if the following criteria have been considered:

(a) The project is necessitated by existing or reasonably foreseeable congestion levels attributable to economic development or growth;

(b) The project emphasizes the movement of people and goods rather than vehicles;

(c) The project includes, where appropriate, other modes of transportation such as transit, high occupancy vehicle lanes, and high capacity transit;

(d) The project conforms to local and regional transportation and land use plans;

(e) The project is consistent with local and regional high-capacity transportation considerations;

(f) The project is consistent with state, regional, and local freight rail considerations in accordance with RCW 47.80.030; and

(g) The project is partially funded by local government or private contributions, or a combination of such contributions.

The board shall, for those projects meeting the eligibility criteria, determine what percentage of each project is funded by local and/or private contribution. Priority consideration shall be given to those projects with the greatest percentage of local and/or private contribution.

Within one year after board approval of an application for funding, a county, city, or transportation benefit district shall provide written certification to the board of the pledged local and/or private funding. Funds allocated to an applicant that does not certify its funding within one year after approval may be reallocated by the board.

(2) Thirteen percent shall be allocated by the board to cities with a population of five thousand or less for street improvement projects in a manner determined by the board.

Sec. 10. RCW 47.26.220 and 1989 c 160 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

Counties and cities, in preparing their respective six year programs relating to urban arterial improvements to be funded by the urban arterial trust account, shall select specific priority improvement projects for each functional class of arterial based on the rating of each arterial section proposed to be improved in relation to other arterial sections within the same functional class, taking into account the following:

(1) Its structural ability to carry loads imposed upon it;

(2) Its capacity to ((~~move traffic and persons at reasonable speeds without undue congestion~~)) provide efficient, dependable, and rapid accessibility for movement of people and goods;

(3) Its adequacy of alignment and related geometrics;

(4) Its accident experience; ((~~and~~))

(5) Its fatal accident experience;

(6) Its consistency with local and regional transportation and land use plans in accordance with RCW 47.80.030;

(7) Its consistency with regional and local high-capacity transportation considerations;

(8) Its consistency with state, regional, and local freight rail considerations. The six-year construction programs shall remain flexible and subject to annual revision as provided in RCW 36.81.121 and 35.77.010.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. Sections 4 through 8 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 47 RCW.