HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1276

             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:  Representatives R. Fisher, Schmidt, R. Meyers, Brown, Jones, Johanson, Cothern, J. Kohl, Horn and Wood; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 22, 1993, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 27 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Finkbeiner; Forner; Fuhrman; Hansen; Heavey; Horn; Johanson; J. Kohl; R. Meyers; Miller; H. Myers; Orr; Patterson; Quall; Sheldon; Shin; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Gene Baxstrom (786-7303).

Background:  In December 1991 the Legislative Transportation Committee completed an 18-month comprehensive policy review of transit systems in the state.  The final study report made a number of recommendations aimed at improving the governance, financing, administration and planning of transit.

One recommendation addressed the fact that while transit service is essentially a local government responsibility in Washington, there is 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) of 1991 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 has established an extensive state transportation policy planning effort.  Last year a subcommittee of this group was formed to address the state's goals for public transportation.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Transportation 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 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, non-motorized interests, cities, counties and other state agencies.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Non-motorized interests are included among those to be involved in developing a state public transportation plan.  Other modes are to be addressed in the plan.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The contents of a state public transportation plan and the process for developing such a plan are prescribed.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Jim Toohey, Department of Transportation; Hugh Mose, Washington State Transit Association; and Gary Molyneaux, C-Tran, Spokane Transit, Pierce Transit and METRO.