H-4097

AN ACT Relating to student pedestrian safety; adding new sections to chapter 28A.160 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the number of motor vehicles on the roads of the state has increased dramatically in recent years, and that this increase has created unsafe conditions for many of our children as they travel to and from school. The legislature further finds that responsibility to ensure safe walking conditions and bus stops for our children is fragmented, and that inadequate resources have been devoted to improving pedestrian safety.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The school pathway and bus stop improvement program is hereby created. The purpose of the program is to establish a council to make recommendations about roads, streets, and bus stops that the council considers inadequate for school children as they travel to school, and develop a program for making safety improvements.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The school pathway and bus stop improvement program council is established. Membership on the council shall include two members of the senate, two members of the house of representatives, and representatives from the department of transportation, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, school district administrators, school board members, counties, cities, the traffic safety commission, school bus drivers, and parents. The president of the senate shall select the senate members and the speaker of the house of representatives shall select the house of representatives members. Representatives of state agencies shall be selected by the respective agency. Other representatives shall be selected by appropriate state-wide organizations. The council shall select a chair from among its members. Staffing and administrative support shall be provided by the Washington traffic safety commission.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The council established in section 3 of this act shall:

(a) Formulate criteria for identifying roads and school bus stops that the council considers inadequate for elementary school students and establish recommendations for standards for making safety improvements;

(b) Based on the criteria and standards in (a) of this subsection, inventory those roads within a one-mile radius of elementary schools and those school bus stops considered inadequate by the council, and recommend priority safety improvement projects;

(c) Develop a plan by which the recommended priority safety improvement projects may be implemented, and make the plan available to applicable local jurisdictions;

(d) Based on the criteria and standards in (a) of this subsection, formulate recommended guidelines for student pedestrian safety within a one-mile radius of new elementary schools. At a minimum, the council shall develop recommended quidelines for incorporating pedestrian safety considerations into school siting decisions, constructing pedestrian safety infrastructure improvements within a specified time after new elementary schools are opened, and creating incentives and enforcement measures to ensure that the safety improvements are completed; and

(e) Estimate the cost of implementing state-wide sidewalk crossing rules.

(2) By June 30, 1994, the council shall submit its recommendations and findings required in subsection (1) of this section to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate, the governor, local governments, school districts, and other appropriate agencies and organizations. After July 1, 1993, the council shall provide general oversight, coordination, and assistance to local governments, state agencies, and private parties in the consideration and implementation of the recommendations.

(3) The recommendations of the council are advisory only and shall not constitute proof of an actual unsafe condition.

(4) Local jurisdictions may adopt, in whole or in part, the recommendations of the council.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 2 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.160 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 4 of this act shall expire June 30, 1997.