H-1345

AN ACT Relating to protecting the scenic heritage along Washington's highways; adding new sections to chapter 47.39 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 46.68 RCW; creating a new section; and making appropriations.

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

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

(1) The majority of Washington's citizens, as well as tourists, learn about and develop significant appreciation for the natural and cultural heritage of the state through travel along Washington highways.

(2) Strategies to help travelers become more informed about the heritage of the area through which they are traveling are a matter of public concern.

(3) The high rate of growth in the state in the past two decades and the projected continued growth in the next two decades make it an urgent matter to develop explicit state policy and strategies to protect and promote appreciation of our heritage.

(4) Many exceptional scenic vistas in danger of being lost due to lack of planning and coordination of development are on heavily traveled corridors if not on the designated scenic and recreational highway system.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 47.39 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall establish a highway heritage program to preserve Washington's unique scenic character along its highway corridors and provide travelers with a continuing opportunity to appreciate and obtain information regarding unique natural, cultural, and historic features that are near or accessible by highways.

(1) The department's program may:

(a) Acquire by purchase, gift, devise, bequest, grant, or exchange, title to or interest or right in real property adjacent to or visible from state highways to accomplish any of the following: Preserve natural beauty or viewpoints, preserve natural buffers between highways, or enhance the visual quality of entrances to cities or other land uses;

(b) Work with public and private landowners, local governments, and private organizations and associations to propose actions to achieve the purposes of this section without land acquisition, to the greatest extent possible, including coordination with local land use and open space plans, state agency programs relating to open space, conservation, urban forestry, and natural resources management;

(c) Provide directional signs and signs with information regarding historical or cultural sites and significant natural features. The department shall provide free of charge directional signs on county roads and city streets to supplement signs on highways if requested by the city or county. This provision does not affect any other statute governing signs;

(d) Work with the parks and recreation commission and the Washington state historical society to identify projects and establish priorities for expenditure of funds under this program. The department shall reimburse the commission for any expenses incurred.

(2) In implementing subsection (1) of this section, the department shall give priority to heavily traveled highway corridors where the potential for loss of unique natural scenic areas is greatest and to newly established highway corridors.

(3) The department shall maintain lands acquired and signs developed through this program. Moneys from the highway heritage account shall be used as in addition to, and not as a substitute for, money currently used for the purposes specified in this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 46.68 RCW to read as follows:

The highway heritage account is created in the motor vehicle fund. Beginning July 1, 1992, the state treasurer shall place three-tenths of one percent of the revenue from any increase in the tax on motor vehicle fuel collected under chapter 82.36 RCW that is imposed after January 1, 1990, after proper deductions for costs of collection as provided in RCW 46.68.090, in the highway heritage account.

The state treasurer shall also place any monetary contributions made to the highway heritage program in the highway heritage account.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 47.39 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall consult with local governments, as well as public agencies, tribal governments and private organizations concerned with growth management, tourism, parks, recreation, community development, historical appreciation, natural resources, habitat protection, conservation, open space plans, and economic development

to encourage activities that promote the goals of section 2 of this act. The department may also develop temporary advisory committees as it determines necessary.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The sum of seventy-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the motor vehicle fund to the department of transportation to complete its survey of the scenic and recreational highways begun in 1990. The department shall report its findings to the legislative transportation committee by December 1, 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The sum of fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the motor vehicle fund to the department of transportation to develop an implementation plan for the highway heritage program. The department shall report its findings to the legislative transportation committee by December 1, 1991.