HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESB 5423

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to development of a public transportation policy plan.

Brief Description:  Developing a public transportation policy plan.

Sponsors:  Senators Skratek and Prince; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, March 30, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 19 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Finkbeiner; Fuhrman; Hansen; Horn; J. Kohl; Miller; H. Myers; Quall; Sheldon; Shin; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Gene Baxstrom (786-7303).

Background:  While transit service is essentially a local government responsibility in Washington, there is a significant state interest in assuring that viable transit service is available throughout the state.  Recent legislative enactments such as growth management and transportation demand management emphasize that state interest. 

At the federal level, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) requires that transit projects funded with federal transit funds be included in a state transportation improvement program (TIP) and a public transportation management system be developed by the state in cooperation with regional and local public transportation agencies.

Currently, there is no state requirement for a state-level transit plan to guide local transit agencies.  During the last several years, the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) has established an extensive state transportation policy planning effort.  This last year a subcommittee of this group was formed to address the state's goals for public transportation.

Summary of Bill:  The DOT is directed to develop a state public transportation plan as part of an overall statewide transportation plan.  The public transportation plan must articulate the state interest in public transportation, identify goals and the agencies responsible for achieving each of them, recommend ways to better coordinate public transportation planning, recommend mechanisms to coordinate public transportation with other transportation modes and services, recommend funding allocation criteria for federal funds, and recommend the facilities and equipment management system required by federal law.

In developing the plan the department must involve interested parties, including public and private providers of public transportation, nonmotorized interests, cities, counties and other state agencies.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.