AN ACT
Relating to air transportation; amending RCW 47.86.030; adding a new section to
chapter 53.08 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature finds that an integrated air transportation system with efficient
intermodal linkages is vital to the economic and social vitality of the state.
Coordination and cooperation among public agencies and between the public and
private sector is crucial to the development of such a system. In 1990, the
legislature created the air transportation commission to develop an air
transportation strategy, implicitly based upon the coordination and cooperation
of these entities.
Specifically,
the commission will assess the state-wide implications of local and regional
air transportation planning, recommend specific goals for air transportation,
and define the relationship between air transportation and environmental and
economic policy goals. It will also formulate state-wide policy
recommendations, and coordinate air transportation with state-wide
transportation system planning.
Clearly,
the commission's work will assist the legislature in developing a comprehensive
air transportation policy that will sustain economic development and
incorporate the legislature's recently adopted growth strategies; provided,
however, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent any
county-wide or multicounty planning council created pursuant to RCW 36.70A.210,
regional transportation planning organization created pursuant to chapter 47.80
RCW, municipal corporation, special district, political subdivision or any
other unit of local government from proceeding with the planning process pursuant
to the requirements of the Growth Management Act, chapter 36.70A RCW or be
construed to prevent compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act,
chapter 43.21C RCW or with the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C.
Secs. 4321 through 4370b.
The
final report of the air transportation commission to the legislative
transportation committee is due by December 1, 1994, with an interim report to
that committee by December 1, 1992.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A new
section is added to chapter 53.08 RCW to read as follows:
No
city, county, or county-wide port district in a county in the western part of
Washington state as divided by the summit of the Cascade mountain range, with a
population of one hundred fifty thousand or more on January 1, 1992, and
contiguous to a county with a population of four hundred thousand or more may
construct a runway of one thousand feet or more, or cause a runway to be
extended, or permit an air carrier to initiate new service at any airport not
presently receiving commercial service that is affected by this section, before
the air transportation commission has submitted its final report to the
legislative transportation committee, which shall occur no later than December
1, 1994.
Sec.
3. RCW
47.86.030 and 1991 c 231 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
The
commission shall conduct studies to determine Washington's long-range air
transportation policy, including an assessment of intermodal needs, and to assess
the impacts of increasing air traffic upon surrounding communities, including
an evaluation of noise mitigation and surface transportation impacts at
existing facilities, and the potential impact at new or expanded facilities.
The
studies shall include, but are not limited to the following:
(1)
The feasibility of acquiring the Stampede Pass rail line for use as a utility
corridor, intermodal high speed transportation corridor or other transportation
uses. The study shall include an examination of the ownership of the Stampede
Pass rail line right of way and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of
preserving the Stampede Pass rail line corridor. It shall include interested
public and private agencies when conducting the study. The commission shall
encourage local communities and the private sector to financially participate
in the study. The commission shall make a presentation of the feasibility
findings to the legislative transportation committee on or before December 1,
1990.
(2)
Recommendations to the legislature on future Washington state air
transportation policy, including the expansion of existing and potential air
carrier and reliever facilities and the siting of such new facilities,
specifically taking into consideration intermodal needs. The commission shall
consider the development of wayports in eastern Washington, taking into account
similar developments in Japan and Germany, in order to reduce congestion
resulting from rapid growth in the Puget Sound region. The commission shall
coordinate its study of airport siting policy issues with the efforts of the
high-speed ground transportation steering committee.
The
commission shall submit findings and recommendations to the legislative
transportation committee by December 1, 1994, with ((an interim)) completed
reports to be presented to the legislative transportation committee ((by
December 1, 1992)) on the dates as provided in subsection (3) of this
section.
(3)
A report on the following work program projects by December 1, 1992:
(a)
Evaluation of the importance of air transportation in the economic and social
vitality of the state including costs and effects of delay of air capacity
expansion;
(b)
Air transportation demand, aviation industry trends, and air capacity in
Washington through 2020;
(c)
A review of the final draft of the Puget Sound air transportation committee's
flight plan assessments of air capacity and demand.
(4)
A transportation systems planning evaluation of air transportation planning
options in Washington by July 1, 1993.
(5)
The work program project reports as provided in subsection (3) of this section
and the policy recommendations of the commission shall be transmitted to
regional transportation planning organizations created pursuant to chapter
47.80 RCW. Each regional transportation planning organization shall consider
the commission's project reports and policy recommendations when adopting its
regional transportation plan and in its review of local comprehensive plans for
consistency with the regional transportation plans.
(6)
A review of the environmental, social, and economic costs associated with
Washington state's air transportation system. The commission shall review
and comment upon the effectiveness and reasonableness of current or planned practices
to mitigate the adverse environmental effects of operating, developing, or
expanding the state's air transportation system.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 4. 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 immediately.
