HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 1271

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to lawful vehicle lengths.

Brief Description:  Prescribing allowed vehicle lengths.

Sponsors:  Representatives R. Fisher, Schmidt, R. Meyers, Brown, Jones, Horn and Wood; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 4, 1993, DPA;

  Passed House, March 5, 1993, 91-0;

Amended by Senate.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 23 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Forner; Fuhrman; Hansen; Heavey; Horn; Johanson; J. Kohl; H. Myers; Orr; Quall; Sheldon; Shin; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

Background:  The state of Washington is currently in non-compliance with the following federal regulations contained in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991:

(1)  Federal law allows the operation of a combination consisting of two 28-1/2 foot trailers.  In order to provide an adequate turning radius, the overall length of the combination is 61 feet.  Current state law restricts the legal length of a double trailer combination to 60 feet.

(2)  Federal code sets the legal maximum overall length for a bus at 45 feet.  With the exception of articulated auto stages and municipal transit vehicles, Washington's statutes limit bus lengths to a maximum of 40 feet.

Summary of Bill:  Washington's statutes are brought into compliance with ISTEA's vehicle length provisions:

(1) The legal length of a double trailer combination is increased from 60 to 61 feet to accommodate the operation of a combination consisting of two 28-1/2 foot trailers; and

(2)  The length of a bus (auto stage, private carrier bus or school bus) is increased from 40 to 45 feet. 

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): The Senate amendment increases the bus length from 45 feet to 46 feet to clarify that the overall length includes bumpers. Buses 45 feet in length are actually 45 feet 6 inches when measured bumper to bumper.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The state is brought into compliance with federal vehicle length laws, thereby promoting conformity with our neighboring states.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Barry Diseth, Department of Transportation.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Yeas 91; Excused 3; Absent 4

Excused:  Representatives Dyer, Eide, Locke

Absent:  Representatives Anderson, Mastin, Pruitt, Scott