S-1759

AN ACT Relating to high capacity transportation; and amending RCW 81.104.040.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 81.104.040 and 1990 c 43 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Agencies in a class AA county and in class A counties bordering a class AA county that are currently authorized to provide high capacity transportation planning and operating services, including but not limited to city-owned transit systems, county transportation authorities, metropolitan municipal corporations, and public transportation benefit areas, must establish through interlocal agreements a joint regional policy committee with proportional representation based upon the population distribution within each agency's designated service area, as determined by the parties to the agreement.

(a) The membership of the joint regional policy committee shall consist of locally elected officials who serve on the legislative authority of the existing transit systems and a representative from the department of transportation. Nonvoting membership for elected officials from adjoining counties may be allowed at the committee's discretion.

(b) The joint regional policy committee shall be responsible for the preparation and adoption of a regional high capacity transportation system plan and an implementation program including a financing package. This plan shall be in conformance with the metropolitan planning organization's regional transportation plan. Before deciding upon a plan and implementation program, the joint regional policy committee shall take into consideration, among other things, the capital cost per mile of the various potential modes of high capacity transportation.

(c) Interlocal agreements shall be executed within two years of March 14, 1990. The joint regional policy committee shall present a high capacity transportation plan and local funding program to the boards of directors of the transit agencies within the service area for adoption.

(d) Transit agencies shall present the adopted plan and financing program for voter approval within four years of the execution of the interlocal agreements. A simple majority vote is required for approval of the high capacity transportation plan and financing program in any service district within each county. Implementation of the program may proceed in any service area approving the plan and program.

(2) If interlocal agreements have not been executed within two years from March 14, 1990, the designated metropolitan planning organization shall convene within one hundred eighty days a conference to be attended by an elected representative selected by the legislative authority of each city and county in a class AA county and in class A counties bordering a class AA county.

(a) Public notice of the conference shall occur thirty days before the date of the conference.

(b) The purpose of the conference is to evaluate the need for developing high capacity transportation service in a class AA county and in class A counties bordering a class AA county and to determine the desirability of a regional approach to developing such service.

(c) The conference may elect to continue high capacity transportation efforts on a subregional basis through existing transit planning and operating agencies.

(d) The conference may elect to pursue regional development by creating a multicounty interim regional high capacity transportation authority. Conference members shall determine the structure and composition of any interim regional authority.

(i) The interim regional authority shall propose a permanent authority or authorities for voter approval. Permanent regional authorities shall become the responsible agencies for planning, construction, operations, and funding of high capacity transportation systems within their service boundaries. Before deciding upon a plan for a high capacity transportation system, the permanent regional authority shall take into account, among other things, the capital cost per mile of the various potential modes of high capacity transportation. Funding sources for a regional high capacity transportation authority or authorities are separate from currently authorized funding sources for city-owned transit systems, county transportation authorities, metropolitan municipal authorities, or public transportation benefit areas.

(ii) State and local jurisdictions, county transportation authorities, metropolitan municipal corporations, or public transportation benefit areas shall retain responsibility for existing facilities and/or services, unless the responsibility is transferred to the high capacity transportation authority or authorities by interlocal agreement.

(3) If, within four years of the execution of the interlocal agreements, a high capacity transportation plan and financing program has been approved by a simple majority vote within a participating jurisdiction, that jurisdiction may proceed with high capacity transportation development. If within four years of the execution of the interlocal agreements, a high capacity transportation plan and program has not been approved by a simple majority vote within one or more of the participating jurisdictions, the joint regional policy committee shall convene within one hundred eighty days, a conference to be attended by participating jurisdictions within which a plan and financing program have not been approved. Such a conference shall be for the same purpose and shall be subject to the same conditions as described in subsection (2) of this section.

(4) High capacity transportation service planning, construction, operations, and funding shall be governed through the interlocal agreement process, including but not limited to provision for a cost allocation and distribution formula, service corridors, station area locations, right of way transfers, and feeder transportation systems. The interlocal agreement shall include a mechanism for resolving conflicts among parties to the agreement.