SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SSB 5612

               AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 10, 1993

Brief Description:  Reorganizing the transportation improvement board.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Erwin, Skratek, Prentice, von Reichbauer, M. Rasmussen, Nelson, Sellar, Vognild, Winsley, Hochstatter, Barr and Oke)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5612 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Loveland, Vice Chairman; Skratek, Vice Chairman; Drew, Nelson, Oke, M. Rasmussen, Sellar, and Sheldon.

Staff:  Roger Horn (786‑7839)

Hearing Dates: February 17, 1993; February 25, 1993

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

BACKGROUND:

The Transportation Improvement Board provides state grants to local jurisdictions for transportation projects in large and small cities and urbanized areas outside of cities.

The board is comprised of 17 members including three city elected officials, three city engineers, three county elected officials, two county engineers, the County Road Administration Board director, three DOT Assistant Secretaries, one public transit member, and one private sector member.  The county, city, transit, and private sector members are appointed by the Secretary of Transportation.

The private sector and public transit members were added to the board in 1991.

SUMMARY:

The Transportation Improvement Board is increased to 18 members and is modified as follows:

--A public member appointed by the Secretary of Transportation is added;

--The DOT Assistant Secretary for Highways is removed;

--A Governor appointee who must be a state employee with transportation responsibilities is added;

--One of the three county elected officials must serve on a transit board;

--The number of county elected officials who must represent counties with population of 125,000 or more is reduced from two to one;

--The number of county engineers/public works directors is reduced from two to one;

--One county planning director or planning manager is added;

--One of the three city elected officials must serve on a transit board;

--The number of city elected officials who must represent cities with population of 20,000 or more is reduced from two to one;

--The number of city engineers/public works directors who must represent cities with population of 20,000 or more is reduced from two to one;

--One city planning director or planning manager is added;

 --At least one of the three county elected officials and at least one of the three city elected officials must be from each side of the state; and

--No appointed member may serve more than two consecutive four-year terms.

Requirements for the public member position include experience in transportation or land use planning, a demonstrated interest in transportation issues, and involvement in community or grassroots organizations.

Applicants for the public member position will be sought through advertisements in newspapers reaching all urban areas of the state.  All applicants must provide a letter of interest and resume.  The same process for seeking candidates is applied to the private sector position.

Conditions for determining vacancies of the private sector and public member positions are added, including resignation or inability or unwillingness to serve.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

Effective Date:  July 1, 1993

TESTIMONY FOR:

The Transportation Improvement Board will be more effective with the addition of a public member and transportation planners, and with greater transit representation.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

The Transportation Improvement Board is operating very effectively and does not need to be changed.

TESTIFIED:  Senator Tim Erwin, prime sponsor; Joe Ganem, Bicycle Federation of Washington (pro); Vern Wagar, County Road Administration Board (pro); Craig Olsen, Association of Washington Cities (con)

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

A technical amendment is made.  Language that was inadvertently struck out in the drafting process is restored.