5963-S AMH TR H2573.1
SSB 5963 - H COMM AMD ADOPTED 4-17-93
By Committee on Transportation
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1. RCW 47.05.010 and 1969 ex.s. c 39 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
The legislature finds
that ((anticipated revenues available for state highways for the foreseeable
future will fall substantially short of the amount required to satisfy all of
the state highway needs. It is the purpose of this chapter to establish a
policy of priority programming for highway development having as its basis the
rational selection of projects according to factual need, systematically
scheduled to carry out defined objectives within limits of money and manpower,
and fixed in advance with reasonable flexibility to meet changed conditions))
solutions to state highway deficiencies have become increasingly complex and
diverse and that anticipated transportation revenues will fall substantially
short of the amount required to satisfy all transportation needs. Difficult
investment trade-offs will be required.
It is the intent of the legislature that investment of state transportation funds to address deficiencies on the state highway system be based on a policy of priority programming having as its basis the rational selection of projects and services according to factual need and an evaluation of life cycle costs and benefits and which are systematically scheduled to carry out defined objectives within available revenue.
The priority programming system shall ensure preservation of the existing state highway system, provide mobility for people and goods, support the state's economy, and promote environmental protection and energy conservation.
The priority programming system shall implement the state-owned highway component of the state-wide multimodal transportation plan, consistent with local and regional transportation plans, by targeting state transportation investment to appropriate multimodal solutions which address identified state highway system deficiencies.
The priority programming system for improvements shall incorporate a broad range of solutions that are identified in the state-wide multimodal transportation plan as appropriate to address state highway system deficiencies including but not limited to highway expansion, efficiency improvements, nonmotorized transportation facilities, high occupancy vehicle facilities, transit facilities and services, rail facilities and services, and transportation demand management programs.
Sec. 2. RCW 47.05.021 and 1987 c 505 s 50 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The transportation commission is hereby directed to conduct periodic analyses of the entire state highway system, report thereon to the chairs of the transportation committees of the senate and house of representatives, including one copy to the staff of each of the committees, biennially and based thereon, to subdivide, classify, and subclassify according to their function and importance all designated state highways and those added from time to time and periodically review and revise the classifications into the following three functional classes:
(a) The "principal arterial system" shall consist of a connected network of rural arterial routes with appropriate extensions into and through urban areas, including all routes designated as part of the interstate system, which serve corridor movements having travel characteristics indicative of substantial state-wide and interstate travel;
(b) The "minor arterial system" shall, in conjunction with the principal arterial system, form a rural network of arterial routes linking cities and other activity centers which generate long distance travel, and, with appropriate extensions into and through urban areas, form an integrated network providing interstate and interregional service; and
(c) The "collector system" shall consist of routes which primarily serve the more important intercounty, intracounty, and intraurban travel corridors, collect traffic from the system of local access roads and convey it to the arterial system, and on which, regardless of traffic volume, the predominant travel distances are shorter than on arterial routes.
(2) ((Those state
highways which perform no arterial or collector function, which serve only
local access functions, and which lack essential state highway characteristics
shall be designated "local access" highways.
(3))) In making the functional classification the
transportation commission shall adopt and give consideration to criteria
consistent with this section and federal regulations relating to the functional
classification of highways, including but not limited to the following:
(a) Urban population centers within and without the state stratified and ranked according to size;
(b) Important traffic generating economic activities, including but not limited to recreation, agriculture, government, business, and industry;
(c) Feasibility of the route, including availability of alternate routes within and without the state;
(d) Directness of travel and distance between points of economic importance;
(e) Length of trips;
(f) Character and volume of traffic;
(g) Preferential consideration for multiple service which shall include public transportation;
(h) Reasonable spacing depending upon population density; and
(i) System continuity.
(3) The transportation commission shall designate a system of state highways that have state-wide significance. This state-wide system shall include interstate highways and other state-wide principal arterials that are needed to connect major communities across the state and support the state's economy.
(4) The transportation commission shall designate a freight and goods transportation system. This state-wide system shall include state highways, county roads, and city streets. The commission, in cooperation with cities and counties, shall review and make recommendations to the legislature regarding policies governing weight restrictions and road closures which affect the transportation of freight and goods. The first report is due by December 15, 1993, and biennially thereafter.
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.
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)) investment program specifying program
objectives and performance measures for the preservation and improvement
programs defined in this section. In the specification of investment program
objectives and performance measures, the transportation commission, in
consultation with the Washington state department of transportation, shall
define and adopt standards for effective programming and prioritization
practices including a needs analysis process. The needs analysis process shall
ensure the identification of problems and deficiencies, the evaluation of
alternative solutions and trade-offs, and estimations of the costs and benefits
of prospective projects. The investment program shall be revised biennially,
effective on July 1st of odd-numbered years. The investment program shall be
based upon the needs identified in the state-owned highway component of the
state-wide multimodal transportation plan as defined in RCW 47.01.071(3).
(1) The preservation program shall consist of those investments necessary to preserve the existing state highway system and to restore existing safety features, giving consideration to lowest life cycle costing. The comprehensive six-year investment program for preservation shall identify projects for two years and an investment plan for the remaining four years.
(2) The improvement program shall consist of investments needed to address identified deficiencies on the state highway system to improve mobility, safety, support for the economy, and protection of the environment. The six-year investment program for improvements shall identify projects for two years and major deficiencies proposed to be addressed in the six-year period giving consideration to relative benefits and life cycle costing.
The transportation commission shall approve and present the comprehensive six-year investment program to the legislature in support of the biennial budget request under RCW 44.40.070 and 44.40.080.
Sec. 4. RCW 47.05.035 and 1987 c 179 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(((1) The
transportation commission, in preparing the comprehensive six-year program and
financial plan for highway improvements, shall allocate the estimated funds
among categories A, B, C, and H)) In developing program objectives and
performance measures, the transportation commission shall evaluate investment
trade-offs between the preservation and improvement programs. In making these
investment trade-offs, the commission shall evaluate, using cost-benefit
techniques, roadway and bridge maintenance activities as compared to roadway
and bridge preservation program activities and adjust those programs
accordingly.
The commission shall allocate the estimated revenue between preservation and improvement programs giving primary consideration to the following factors:
(((a))) (1)
The relative needs in each of the ((categories of improvements)) programs
and the system performance levels that can be achieved by meeting these needs;
(((b))) (2)
The need to provide adequate funding for ((category A improvements)) preservation
to protect the state's investment in its existing highway system;
(((c))) (3)
The continuity of future ((highway)) transportation development
((of all categories of improvements)) with those improvements
previously programmed; and
(((d))) (4)
The availability of ((special categories of federal)) dedicated
funds for a specific type of work.
(((2) The commission
in preparing the comprehensive six-year program and financial plan shall
establish program objectives for each of the highway categories, A, B, C, and
H.))
Sec. 5. RCW 47.05.051 and 1987 c 179 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
(((1))) The
comprehensive six-year investment program ((and financial plan for
each category of highway improvements)) shall be based upon ((a)) the
needs identified in the state-owned highway component of the state-wide multimodal
transportation plan as defined in RCW 47.01.071(3) and priority selection
((system within the program objectives established for each category. The
commission using the criteria set forth in RCW 47.05.030, as now or hereafter
amended, shall determine the category of each highway improvement.
(2) Selection of
specific category A and H projects for the six-year)) systems that incorporate the following
criteria:
(1) Priority
programming for the preservation program shall take into account the ((criteria
set forth in subsection (4) of this section.
(3) Selection of
specific category B projects for the six-year program shall be based on
commission established priorities for completion and preservation of the
interstate system.
(4) In selecting
each category A and H project as provided in subsection (2) of this section,
the following criteria ()) following,
not necessarily in order of importance(() shall be taken into consideration:
(a) Its)):
(a) Extending the service life of the existing highway system;
(b) Ensuring the
structural ability to carry loads imposed upon ((it)) highways and
bridges;
(((b) Its capacity
to move traffic at reasonable speeds without undue congestion;
(c) Its adequacy of
alignment and related geometrics;
(d) Its accident
experience; and
(e) Its fatal
accident experience.
(5))) and
(c) Minimizing life
cycle costs. The transportation commission in carrying out the provisions
of this section may delegate to the department of transportation the authority
to select ((category A, B, and H improvements)) preservation projects
to be included in the six-year program.
(((6) Selection of
specific category C projects for the six-year program shall be based on the
priority of each highway section proposed to be improved in relation to other
highway sections within the state with full regard to the structural,
geometric, safety, and operational adequacy of the existing highway section
taking into account the following:
(a))) (2) Priority programming for the improvement
program shall take into account the following:
(a) Support for the state's economy, including job creation and job preservation;
(b) The cost-effective movement of people and goods;
(c) Accident and accident risk reduction;
(d) Protection of the state's natural environment;
(e) Continuity
((of)) and systematic development of the highway transportation
network;
(((b) Coordination
with the development of other modes of transportation;
(c) The stated long
range goals of the local area and its transportation plan;
(d) Its potential
social, economic, and environmental impacts)) (f) Consistency with local comprehensive plans developed under
chapter 36.70A RCW;
(g) Consistency with regional transportation plans developed under chapter 47.80 RCW;
(((e))) (h)
Public views concerning proposed improvements;
(((f))) (i)
The conservation of energy resources ((and the capacity of the
transportation corridor to move people and goods safely and at reasonable
speeds)); ((and
(g))) (j) Feasibility of financing the full
proposed improvement;
(k) Commitments established in previous legislative sessions;
(l) Relative costs and benefits of candidate programs;
(m) Major projects addressing capacity deficiencies which prioritize allowing for preliminary engineering shall be reprioritized during the succeeding biennium, based upon updated project data. Reprioritized projects may be delayed or canceled by the transportation commission if higher priority projects are awaiting funding; and
(n) Major project approvals which significantly increase a project's scope or cost from original prioritization estimates shall include a review of the project's estimated revised priority rank and the level of funding provided. Projects may be delayed or canceled by the transportation commission if higher priority projects are awaiting funding.
(((7))) (3)
The commission ((in selecting any project for improvement in categories A, B,
C, or H)) may depart from the priority ((of projects so)) programming
established under subsections (1) and (2) of this section: (a) To
the extent that otherwise funds cannot be utilized feasibly within the
program((,)); (b) as may be required by a court judgment, legally
binding agreement, or state and federal laws and regulations((,));
(c) as may be required to coordinate with federal, local, or other state agency
construction projects((,)); (d) to take advantage of some
substantial financial benefit that may be available((,)); (e) for
continuity of route development((,)); or (f) because of changed
financial or physical conditions of an unforeseen or emergent nature. The
commission or secretary of transportation shall maintain in its files
information sufficient to show the extent to which the commission has departed
from the established priority ((of projects.
(8) The
comprehensive six-year program and financial plan for highway improvements
shall be revised biennially pursuant to RCW 47.05.040 as now or hereafter
amended. The adopted program and plan shall be extended for an additional two
years, to six years in the future, effective on July 1st of each odd-numbered
year)).
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 47.05 RCW to read as follows:
The provisions of chapter ..., Laws of 1993 (this act) modifying procedures for priority programming for highway development as set forth in chapter 47.05 RCW, first apply to the comprehensive six-year state highway investment program for the periods 1995 to 2001. For the transition biennium ending June 30, 1995, the commission may deviate from the modified procedures prescribed by chapter ..., Laws of 1993 (this act).
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
(1) RCW 47.05.040 and 1987 c 179 s 4, 1979 ex.s. c 122 s 4, 1977 ex.s. c 235 s 15, 1975 1st ex.s. c 143 s 3, 1973 2nd ex.s. c 12 s 5, 1969 ex.s. c 39 s 4, & 1963 c 173 s 4;
(2) RCW 47.05.055 and 1979 ex.s. c 122 s 6 & 1975 1st ex.s. c 143 s 6;
(3) RCW 47.05.070 and 1991 c 358 s 5, 1983 1st ex.s. c 53 s 31, 1979 ex.s. c 122 s 7, 1977 ex.s. c 151 s 45, 1973 2nd ex.s. c 12 s 7, & 1963 c 173 s 7; and
(4) RCW 47.05.085 and 1985 c 400 s 4."
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