FINAL BILL REPORT

                           SSB 5744

                          C 126 L 93

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Changing provisions concerning streets that are part of the state highway system.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Loveland, Vognild, Winsley and M. Rasmussen)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

BACKGROUND:

Certain city streets are designated as part of the state highway system.  The jurisdiction and control of these streets is defined in statute.  The statute provides that in cities or towns with a population of 15,000 or less, the Department of Transportation is responsible for:  (1) maintaining the stability of the slopes of cuts and fills and the embankments within the right of way to protect the roadway; and (2) operating, maintaining and controlling traffic signals, signs and control devices for motor vehicle traffic and pedestrians on state highways.

If a city or town has a population greater than 15,000 after January, 1990, the state only retains these responsibilities until June 30, 1993, when the responsibilities for maintenance shift to the city or town.

In 1991 a task force was created to study the maintenance responsibilities of cities and towns and to reexamine the population threshold.  The task force has recommended that the population threshold be raised to 20,000.

SUMMARY:

The population threshold at which cities and towns must assume additional responsibility for their streets that are part of the highway system is raised to 22,500.

Once a city or town is determined to have exceeded the threshold, the transfer of maintenance responsibilities takes effect three years from the date of the determination.  During this time, cities and towns may plan for additional staffing, budgetary and equipment requirements.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    45   0

House     79   19

EFFECTIVE:July 25, 1993