SENATE BILL REPORT

 

                           ESSB 5605

 

               AS PASSED SENATE, APRIL 14, 1993

 

 

Brief Description:  Funding roadside improvements.

 

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Ecology & Parks (originally sponsored by Senators Fraser, Prentice and Prince)

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

 

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5605 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Transportation.

     Signed by Senators Fraser, Chairman; Moore, Sutherland, and Talmadge.

 

Staff:  Cathy Baker (786‑7708)

 

Hearing Dates: February 19, 1993; March 3, 1993

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

 

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended to Substitute Senate Bill No. 5605 as recommended by Committee on Ecology & Parks.

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Skratek, Vice Chairman; Drew, Haugen, Nelson, Oke, Prentice, Prince, M. Rasmussen, Sheldon, and Winsley.

 

Minority Report:  Do not pass substitute. 

     Signed by Senator Loveland.

 

Staff:  Roger Horn (786-7839)

 

Hearing Dates:  April 1, 1993; April 2, 1993

 

 

BACKGROUND:

 

Under existing law, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is authorized to erect and maintain individual business signs, commonly referred to as logo signs, along interstates to give the traveling public information on the availability of gas, food, and lodging at interchanges.  The department is authorized to charge reasonable fees for the display of these signs in order to defray the costs of installation and maintenance.

 

The Department of Transportation currently manages a Scenic Highways Program that works with other state agencies and local governments to preserve and enhance amenities along state highways, including unique natural, cultural and historic features. 

 

In 1991, the Legislature directed the Department of Transportation to study a "Highway Heritage Program" whose purpose would be to preserve the scenic character of Washington's highway corridors and provide travelers with opportunities to appreciate and obtain information on unique features that are near or accessible by highways.    

 

SUMMARY:

 

A highway heritage account is created in the transportation fund.  Revenue from the account shall be used exclusively for grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations (1) to allow citizens to participate in comprehensive highway corridor programs and (2) for projects that preserve and enhance scenic, historical, or cultural features along state highways and county roads.  The use of this revenue to match federal and local funds for similar scenic highway programs is a priority. 

 

For individual business signs along interstates, businesses shall pay an annual fee of $50 per mainline sign.  The fees shall be deposited into the highway heritage account. 

 

Appropriation: none

 

Revenue:  yes

 

Fiscal Note:  available

 

TESTIMONY FOR (Ecology & Parks):  None

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Ecology & Parks):

 

The proposed fees will impact small businesses.  There are other ways to fund highway heritage programs.  Fees should be used only for defraying administrative costs associated with the department's sign program. 

 

TESTIFIED (Ecology & Parks):  CON: Terry Lynch; Raymond Thieman; Celia Fritz, 3M National; Bill Barber, Ackerly Communications; Becky Bogard, Washington State Hotel Motel Association

 

TESTIMONY FOR (Transportation):

 

The highway heritage program will help preserve scenic views and provide information on Washington's history and culture for travelers.  The companies that advertise on highways using food, gas, and lodging signs or billboards benefit from increased tourism and should help pay for roadside improvements that encourage travel in our state.

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Transportation):

 

Fees should not be imposed on billboard owners for purposes other than covering administrative costs of billboard regulation.  These fees would place an undue burden on the state's major billboard companies.

 

TESTIFIED (Transportation):  Senator Fraser, prime sponsor (pro); Becky Bogard, Ackerly Communications (con); Celia Fritz, 3M (con)