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