SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5428

                    AS OF JANUARY 29, 1993

Brief Description:  Prescribing allowed vehicle lengths.

SPONSORS: Senator Loveland; by request of Department of Transportation

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786‑7309)

Hearing Dates: February 3, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The state of Washington is currently in noncompliance 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:

Washington's statutes are brought into compliance with ISTEA's vehicle length requirements:

(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 is increased from 40 to 45 feet.  Municipal transit vehicles are no longer exempt from the bus length restriction.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested